After returning to the county yamen and checking in, Gu Qingyun had nothing else to do, so she went straight to her room to cultivate. The other constables were already used to this.
Everyone in the yamen knew the new little girl was a cultivation fanatic. Aside from her shifts, she spent all her time cultivating. When she had no duties, she was almost always either at the martial arts field or in her room.
Evening soon arrived. Gu Qingyun went straight to the yamen kitchen for dinner. When the Xu hour arrived, she picked up her lantern and headed out of the yamen with Bai Fan to begin their night patrol.
Gu Qingyun actually quite liked night patrol duty. Aside from staying up late, it had no drawbacks, and during the first watch, a casual pass was all that was needed.
The critical period was between the second and fourth watches, as that was when petty thieves and criminals usually broke the law. If something major occurred, the night watchman's wooden clapper would serve as a signal for the constables to team up with the watchmen and city gate guards to provide backup.
Now that she and Bai Fan were assigned to night patrols together, chatting occasionally kept the job from feeling boring.
As the two strolled along the street, Gu Qingyun spotted several children still playing by the roadside and frowned.
“Hey kids, hurry on home. It's already dark out. Don't wander outside unless you have to.”
Gu Qingyun's tone was calm and measured, but to the children, it sounded like something else entirely.
To them, her voice sounded intimidating. At her words, they scattered like a flock of birds, shouting as they ran:
“Run, everyone! If she catches us, she's gonna eat us! My mom said not to go out at night because there are monsters that eat children!”
Black lines covered Gu Qingyun's face. As a constable who patrolled this area every day, the local kids surely recognized her, making it hard not to suspect they were doing it on purpose.
A few women out looking for their kids paused to glance at Gu Qingyun and Bai Fan upon hearing their children's shouts. They walked over and, with pained expressions, pulled a few copper coins from their pockets and shoved them into the pair's hands.
“The children are young, so please don't take it to heart, Officers. Just a small token for you two to buy some wine.”
With that, the women glared at their children. Naughty little brats, making us lose money for nothing!
The angrier they got, the firmer their grip became. The women grabbed their children by the ears and dragged them home.
“Get inside! It's already dark and you're still not home, playing outside all day long. If you've got nothing to do, help me with housework!”
“Ouch! Ow, Mom! I won't do it again! Stop pulling my ear, it's gonna fall off!”
Howls of tears and crying from the kids mixed with the mothers' angry scolding echoed down the street, adding a lively touch of everyday warmth to the quiet night.
Gu Qingyun looked at the street that had emptied in a matter of moments, then down at the copper coins in her hand, exchanging a look with Bai Fan.
Well, they hadn't been patrolling long and they had already netted some extra cash. Looking at the copper coins in her hand, tonight's late-night snack was secured. Gu Qingyun tucked the money into her pocket and resumed patrolling the street with Bai Fan.
“Brothers, over here, over here!”
Gu Qingyun turned toward the voice and saw a man dressed like a servant holding a lantern by the back door of a residence, waving at her and Bai Fan.
“Who are you?” Gu Qingyun walked over briskly, with Bai Fan close behind.
The man bowed cupped hands in greeting.
“I am the servant of the Liu family's Eldest Young Master. Constable Gu can just call me Xiao Li. When my master returned a few days ago, Constable Gu was out on official business.”
“I specially waited here tonight to offer a small gift, asking that Constable Gu keep a closer eye on the back door here during your night patrols.”
With that, he handed a small embroidered pouch directly to Gu Qingyun.
Gu Qingyun took it and glanced at Bai Fan beside her, feeling a bit awkward.
“Sister Yun, go ahead and take it. Young Master Liu just returned and made arrangements with everyone. I already received mine,” Bai Fan whispered, leaning in.
Hearing this, Gu Qingyun tucked the pouch into her chest pocket and nodded to Xiao Li.
“Thank you.”
Seeing Gu Qingyun accept it, Xiao Li smiled warmly and handed each of them a paper-wrapped package of food.
“Inside are piping-hot meat pies, very delicious. Thank you both for your hard work. My master needs me back inside, so I shall take my leave.”
Once Xiao Li went back inside through the rear gate, Gu Qingyun squeezed the oiled paper package in her hand and smiled.
“Our luck is pretty great today. Not only did we get money, but we got food too.”
Bai Fan nodded, treating the package like a treasure.
“Judging by the size of this paper package, there must be quite a few meat pies inside. Tsk tsk, enough for us to eat two meals!”
Gu Qingyun squeezed the package again, asking in confusion, “Still, the two of us are just petty clerks, while the Eldest Young Master of the Liu family is a high official. Why is his servant being so polite to us?”
It was no wonder Gu Qingyun found it odd. A Shujishi was a rank of lower Sixth Pin, whereas even the main magistrate of their county yamen was only lower Eighth Pin.
As the saying went, when a man attains the Dao, his poultry and dogs rise to heaven as well. A servant attending the Liu family's Eldest Young Master would usually carry himself with considerable pride outside.
Bai Fan was easygoing by nature. He clapped Gu Qingyun heavily on the shoulder.
“Sister Yun, don't overthink it. Who knows what goes on in the minds of wealthy families? Since he's greased our palms, we'll just keep a closer eye on his place during night patrols. Free money is free money—might as well take it.”
“Heh, I saved all the money I got last time instead of handing it over to my family. As constables, we practice martial arts every day, so we eat a lot!”
“If I gave this money to my family, I'd have to ask my mom for allowance every time I wanted to treat myself to a good meal. Having a little cash in hand gives me peace of mind.” Gu Qingyun smiled faintly but said nothing.
...
On the other side, Li Lai Fu returned to the Liu Residence. The Eldest Young Master of the Liu family was reading in his study. Seeing him enter, he asked calmly,
“Lai Fu, how did it go?”
Xiao Li stepped inside, shut the study door, and replied,
“Young Master, the matter you entrusted to me is done. Constable Gu accepted the silver and agreed. However, Young Master, there is something I do not understand. Constable Gu is merely a young girl who hasn't even reached her hair-pinning ceremony. Why do you hold her in such high regard?”
The Eldest Young Master laid down his book and sighed.
“Lai Fu, the world is not as simple as it appears on the surface. Based on the information you gathered, if it holds true, this Constable Gu can be considered a person of extraordinary capability. Befriending her carries no downside. It is merely a small sum of money, a worthy price to pay for peace of mind.”
“Very well, you need not concern yourself with other matters. We will return to the capital in a few days, so stay vigilant until then.”
“As for the main courtyard, although a few servants claim it is haunted, nothing has actually happened. It is likely just a guilty conscience playing tricks on them. Pay it no mind.”
“Understood,” Xiao Li answered, stepping softly out of the study and closing the door behind him.
Once the study fell quiet, the Eldest Young Master gazed silently toward the southeast, sitting motionless for a long time.
...
By the time Gu Qingyun and Bai Fan finished patrolling their assigned sector for the third time, it was already the Zi hour. Instead of returning to the yamen, they simply found a spot on the ground to sit down and rest.
“Meow, meow.” Little Black leaped down from Gu Qingyun's shoulder, stretched its body, and crawled onto her lap to lie down.
“Sister Yun, where did you get this little cat? It looks so spirited!” Bai Fan looked at the remarkably intelligent black cat with great curiosity. With the thunder and rain earlier today, both of them had been in such a rush that he hadn't had the chance to ask.
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