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His eyes narrowed as he said, “This man assaulted and nearly killed me. I am the victim here and this is none of your business.”

The official before him was a fifth-ranked official—an insignificant nuisance compared to his father. However, his father had no jurisdiction over the Ministry of Justice.

Nobleman Zhou tempered his language in hopes that the official would think twice about interfering with the affairs of an assistant minister’s son.

It was unwise to make unnecessary enemies within the courts.

Unimpressed by the young nobleman’s outburst, the green-robed official sneered. “I advise Nobleman Zhou to repeat those words to the Minister of Justice.”

Nobleman Zhou frowned. He exchanged looks with Elder Chen and the old man said, “Minister Sun is on good terms with your father…”

The unspoken meaning was the minister would overlook trivial matters, and this was no longer trivial.

Irritated by the turn of events, Nobleman Zhou followed them out of jail. If the situation was salvaged, he would get his hands on Xu Qian again and make sure the man suffered.

Xu Qian was released from captivity. The sunlight blinded him as his pupils constricted to accommodate the brightness.

He was escorted by the green-robed official to the main courtyard. There was a crowd gathered there—officials dressed in different colored uniforms, a dozen of white robes, and two sprightly Confucian elders. Xu Qian also noticed two carriages with their odd-looking horses dead on the ground.

The scene surprised Nobleman Zhou as well. ‘What happened?’

The clanking sounds of manacles stopped. Xu Qian turned around and said to the young nobleman, “Be glad that you were interrupted. Let me reintroduce myself, I’m the newest disciple of the Principal Imperial Astronomer.”

Elder Chen’s eyes widened.

A range of expressions flashed across Nobleman Zhou’s face.

‘No way. There’s no way he’s the disciple of the Principal Imperial Astronomers.’

However, the white robes congregating in the courtyard supported Xu Qian’s statement. Nobleman Zhou and Elder Chen stayed calm.

Xu Qian ignored his captors and took a few steps forward. After a quick scan of the crowd, he did not find Lady Caiwei among the people.

‘Where’s the pretty girl with the oval-shaped face? Constable Wang delivered the blue book but I don’t see Lady Caiwei. The alchemists of the Imperial Astronomers read the book and rushed to my rescue? Is she preoccupied with something else?’

Xu Qian took a deep breath and folded his hands together. The manacles clanked loudly together as he greeted, “Good to see my brothers.”

Song Qing was surprised. He met Xu Qian’s eyes and asked, “Did you write the book?”

‘I don’t like his eyes.’ Xu Qian nodded. “This is not the place to talk about it. Once we leave the Ministry of Justice, Ningyan will tell you everything you want to know.”

Witnessing the exchange between Xu Qian and the Imperial Astronomers, Nobleman Zhou approached Minister Sun for clarification. He refused to believe the man was truly a disciple of the Imperial Astronomers.

“Minister Sun, the Imperial Astronomers…”

Minister Sun glanced at the young nobleman. “They came for a prisoner.”

Nobleman Zhou swayed.

The gaunt-faced old man’s breathing picked up.

Was the man truly the disciple of the Principal Imperial Astronomer? Impossible, if that was true, the missing tax silvers case would not have seen the Xu family thrown into jail.

The tax silvers!

Perhaps Xu Qian was made a disciple after he solved the case.

The man had successfully produced the fake silver without ever having an alchemy mentor. His talents must have caught the Principal Imperial Astronomer’s attention and made him an exception.

Otherwise, why would the white robes come for him?

At that moment, the old man noticed the two silent Confucian scholars and the odd-looking horses on the ground.

He focused his gaze and recognized them as the elders of the White Deer Academy.

The old man swallowed his saliva. “Minister, the two Confucian elders…”

Minister Sun’s expression betrayed nothing. “They came for the same prisoner.”

Nobleman Zhou frowned as he looked at Elder Chen.

…

“So, you’re Xu Qian?” a voice spoke.

Xu Qian turned to find a grey-robed elder with a goatee. ‘And who are you?’

Another elder dressed in a blue robe appeared. He smiled as he evaluated Xu Qian. “I am Cijiu’s mentor. ‘Fear not a journey of loneliness, for you are not a stranger to the realm’. You’re the one who wrote the poem?”

“My apologies for not recognizing you. I am Ningyan,” Xu Qian said.

The courtesy name was commonly used in introduction as it was taboo to address people by their given name. Not offering up one’s courtesy name meant one was not interested in the friendship.

The smile widened on the blue-robed elder’s face.

“If we’re done here, let us all leave the Ministry of Justice,” an impatient Song Qing called out.

Immediately, a jailer appeared before Xu Qian and unlocked the manacles.

Xu Qian nodded. “Agreed!”

Smiles broke out among the Imperial Astronomers. They have achieved their goal and looked forward to the upcoming discussion.

Li Mubai and Zhang Zhen were also in agreement. There was an intense tug of war between them and the prize had just been released.

Phew!

Nobleman Zhou was glad to see Xu Qian leave. He was reluctant to admit it but he was worried there would be consequences to his actions.

Suddenly, Xu Qian halted his footsteps. “Wait!”

The Imperial Astronomers’ white robes and the two Confucian elders looked at Xu Qian.

“There’s one more thing I need to handle.” Xu Qian took a bow and headed for Nobleman Zhou. On his way, he grabbed the wooden stocks from the jailer.

...

“Y-You! What do you think you’re doing?” Scared witless, Nobleman Zhou staggered back.

“Xu Qian! My father is the Assistant Minister of Revenue, don’t you dare touch me! You dare to assault me in the Ministry of Justice? Minister Sun, arrest this man… Elder Chen, help me…”

Thud!

Xu Qian slammed the wooden stocks over Zhou Li’s head—the wood splintered and broke.

Nobleman Zhou’s eyes rolled back into his head as he fell backward. Blood pooled around his hair.

With a deadpan expression, Xu Qian stared at the gaunt-faced old man. “Kill me.”

Silence filled the courtyard.

“Why don’t you kill me as you promised? Before the Imperial Astronomers, the Justice officials, and the Confucian scholars, come on.”

The anger on the old man’s face receded as he stood there, rooted to the ground.

…

‘A near brush with death…’ Truly, social status played a significant role in the court of law. The law was only fair when both parties were commoners. Xu Qian bathed in the warm glow of the winter sun, feeling as if he had been reborn.

...

As he stepped out of the Ministry of Justice, two horses came galloping down the street. It was Xu Xinnian and Xu Pingzhi.

They saw Xu Qian among the Imperial Astronomers’ white robes and visibly relaxed.

‘Why are the Imperial Astronomers here?’ Xu Pingzhi wondered. As a martial artist at maximum Qi training and a survivor of the Battle of Shanhai Pass, he did not place the Imperial Astronomers on a pedestal as most common folks did.

Xu Xinnian glanced at his cousin then sighed softly. He secured the reins of his horse and bowed before the two Confucian elders. “Many thanks to my mentor and Elder Mubai.”

Xu Qian folded his hands and bowed to the Imperial Astronomers before quickly joining his cousin in thanking the two Confucian elders.

Li Mubai said regretfully, “How did a poet like you end up in jail? Ningyan, would you be interested in the ways of Confucianism? The White Deer Academy welcomes you.”

‘You barely know each other and you’re calling him Ningyan?’ Zhang Zhen said, “Why yes, I will gladly take you under my wing.”

Xu Qian was at a loss.