Now almost everyone in the entire county town knows about the conflict between Jin Feng and the prefect. Da Liu, coming to the county town this time, was most worried about being targeted by the prefect.
In Da Liu’s view, avoiding the prefect was not quick enough, who would have thought that Tang Xiao Bei would actually take the initiative to go to the prefect’s mansion.
Isn’t this like a sheep entering a tiger’s mouth?
“Miss Xiao Bei, the prefect must hate us to death now, Mr is not here, it’s too dangerous for us to go.” Da Liu anxiously advised.
“Brother Da Liu, do you think if the prefect wants to harm us, hiding would be useful?”
Tang Xiao Bei asked in return.
“Er…” Da Liu choked, then shook his head and said: “The entire county town belongs to the prefect, if he really wants to deal with us, hiding anywhere seems useless.”
His tone was full of helplessness.
“Isn’t that right?” Tang Xiao Bei said: “Since we can’t avoid it anyway, it’s better to go openly to pay a visit. Perhaps after today, we won’t need to worry about safety issues anymore.”
“Why?” Da Liu asked.
“Actually, the prefect is still quite wary of Mr, he may not dare to act against us, but in the future we still need to open shops in the county town, there’s no need to make things too tense with the prefect.”
Tang Xiao Bei said: “The reason the prefect hates us is nothing more than feeling that Mr made him lose face. With Mr’s status, it’s impossible for him to take the initiative to reconcile, otherwise it would seem like bowing his head, even if he never sets foot in Guangyuan again, I absolutely won’t let Mr do that.
But I, as a mere woman, don’t need to consider these things. I go to visit the prefect and give him a way out, I think he would be happy to take the opportunity to step down.”
“That makes sense.” Da Liu suddenly understood and admiringly gave a thumbs up: “Miss Xiao Bei, you think more clearly.”
“Brother Tiezi should have delivered the goods and returned by now. Trouble Brother Da Liu to send someone to tell Brother Tiezi to prepare all the empty boxes, tie red ropes on them. When we go back, we’ll head to the prefect’s mansion.”
Tang Xiao Bei said with a smile: “Tell Brother Tiezi to make the momentum as big as possible.”
“There are plenty of boxes on Tiezi’s side, how much stuff needs to be loaded?” Da Liu frowned and asked.
“No need to load a lot.” Tang Xiao Bei thought for a moment and said: “Like this, have Brother Tiezi put a few balls of hemp thread in each box.”
“Sending hemp thread to the prefect?” Da Liu widened his eyes: “That doesn’t seem right.”
“What we send isn’t important, as long as we give the prefect enough face, even if we send empty boxes, it’s the best gift.”
Tang Xiao Bei laughed: “We’re here in the county town to make money, if we send a few boxes of silver to the prefect, what do we earn then?”
“That makes sense. I’ll send someone back to tell Tiezi to prepare right away.”
Da Liu agreed and sent an old soldier back.
By the time Tang Xiao Bei and the others had eaten on the street and returned to the inn, Liu Tie had just prepared everything.
Soon, Tang Xiao Bei led the team out of the inn.
Her carriage led the way, followed by a large group of men carrying huge boxes one after another.
Under Tang Xiao Bei’s instructions, Liu Tie and the others pretended the boxes were very heavy, each one grimacing with exhaustion.
The female soldiers and old soldiers also put on vigilant expressions, long knives drawn and held in hand, constantly scanning the passing crowds.
Inside the prefect’s mansion, the prefect had just finished lunch and was preparing for a nap when the gatekeeper ran in.
“Sir, there’s a girl named Tang Xiao Bei outside seeking an audience with Madam.”
According to Da Kang rules, Tang Xiao Bei had no qualification to seek an audience with the prefect and could only request to see the prefect’s wife.
But this visit to the prefect’s mansion was just for formality. Even if the one receiving Tang Xiao Bei was only a servant, as long as the prefect allowed Tang Xiao Bei into the mansion, the goal of this trip would be achieved.
“Tang Xiao Bei, what is she here for?”
The prefect said angrily: “I’ve already sent Xiao Shuang far away to another place, and she still won’t let it go?”
“Sir, don’t get angry first.”
The prefect’s wife asked: “Didn’t Tang Xiao Bei go back to Jinchuan with Jin Feng a few days ago? Old Nine, are you sure you didn’t hear wrong?”
“This old servant asked specifically once, won’t hear wrong.”
The gatekeeper replied: “By the way, Sir, Tang Xiao Bei said she came to apologise to Madam.”
“Apologise?” The prefect was stunned.
“Yes, she brought more than a dozen boxes tied with red ropes.” The gatekeeper said.
“What medicine is Jin Feng selling in his gourd?”
A thoughtful look appeared in the prefect’s eyes.
“Sir, you always like to overthink things. You are the prefect of the county, the parent official of Guangyuan. As long as Jin Feng wants to establish himself in Guangyuan, he absolutely can’t bypass you.”
The prefect’s wife said: “Perhaps Tang Xiao Bei really came to apologise? Otherwise, why bring so many gifts?”
According to Da Kang rules, tying red ropes on boxes meant coming to give gifts.
“What Madam says does make some sense.”
The prefect nodded and said to the gatekeeper: “Old Nine, let Tang Xiao Bei in.”
“Yes!” The gatekeeper bowed and turned to leave.
“Then Madam, you go see what Tang Xiao Bei wants with you?” The prefect said.
“I’m just an old woman, what business does she have with me unrelated?”
Madam rolled her eyes at the prefect: “It’s obvious she’s here for you.”
With that, she pulled the prefect to the inner hall together.
At the gate of the prefect’s mansion, the gatekeeper directed the servants to open the main gate.
“Everyone stay alert, protect Miss Xiao Bei.”
Da Liu quietly instructed several old soldiers, then turned to the female soldier: “A Lan, you lot don’t leave Miss Xiao Bei’s side even a step, understand?”
Apart from A Mei, A Lan was the earliest to follow Qing Mu Lan, her skills second only to A Mei among the female soldiers.
This time, to protect Tang Xiao Bei, Jin Feng had insisted on taking her.
“Understood!” A Lan nodded emphatically.
“Brother Da Liu, if the prefect really wants to act against us, bringing more people is pointless.”
Tang Xiao Bei shook her head and said: “Sister A Lan can go with me, bringing too many people would make us seem guilty.
By the way, entering the prefect’s mansion definitely won’t allow weapons, Sister A Lan, don’t bring your knife.”
“How can that be, I must go in with you.” Da Liu objected.
“I’m seeking an audience with the prefect’s wife, we’ll definitely go to the inner residence, what would bringing you look like?”
Tang Xiao Bei said: “Besides, just a few days ago you pointed a crossbow at the prefect, going over would provoke him.”
“Then… alright.”
Da Liu nodded reluctantly: “A Lan, if anything happens, give a whistle, I’ll bring people in to kill right away.”
“I will.” A Lan nodded.
“Alright, the gate is open, let’s go in.”
Tang Xiao Bei brought A Lan and Liu Tie and others through the gate.
Liu Tie and the others left the boxes in the front courtyard, while Tang Xiao Bei and A Lan followed a maid, each holding a small box, into the back courtyard.
After passing a rockery garden, they met the prefect couple who were drinking tea in the back hall.
“This little woman Tang Xiao Bei pays respects to the prefect and to Madam.”
Tang Xiao Bei slightly curtsied and saluted.
