Liu Zongyi led Chai Yan and Yuan all the way to the flower hall to sit down, and while the kitchen was preparing breakfast, he started talking to Chai Yan.
Liu Zongyi first complimented and praised Chai Yan and his wife for their heroic deeds in wiping out the Xingyang Gangshan bandits. He also said a lot of good things about their martial arts skills, strength and bravery, and how they sacrificed themselves for the people against an enemy of hundreds.
Although Chai Yan knew clearly that Magistrate Liu was trying to flatter him to please him, it still sounded very useful and comfortable.
Then, Liu Zongyi asked round and round about the purpose and purpose of Chai Yan's trip. After all, it was very unusual for someone from Wude to show up at the Zhengning County Yamen on the morning of the first day of the new year.
Chai Yan couldn't tell what Liu Zongyi was thinking, so he told him that the destination of his couple was Yaozhou, not Zhengning County. It was just a coincidence to catch the thief and send him here. If he hadn't encountered what happened in Xingyangang,
They should have already passed Zhengning County and headed for Yaozhou.
After Liu Zongyi thought about it carefully, he felt that what Chai Yan said should be true. If he came to Zhengning County for business, he should not choose the first day of the Lunar New Year, because at this time, all the officials in the Yamen were on vacation and everything was inconvenient;
It is impossible to bring only his wife with him, there should be accompanying the captain and his subordinates.
Just when Chai Yan was wondering why breakfast hadn't been served yet, someone came outside the hall.
Chai Yan saw that it was Liu Zongyi's servant who led several servants to bring breakfast.
In addition to the boy, there were four servants carrying trays. There were rice, porridge, pasta and pastries. In short, there were all kinds of things, which was really rich.
After all the food was put on the table, Liu Zongyi said politely: "Secretary Chai, Mrs. Chai, Zhengning County is a small place, and all the food is crude food from the countryside. I hope you don't dislike it...
"
Chai Yan looked at everything on the table and said with a smile: "Master Liu, if this can be called crude, then nothing can be called rich."
Liu Zongyi cupped his hands and said: "Secretary Chai, Mrs. Chai, please take your time. I will prepare a rest room for you two..."
Chai Yan hurriedly asked: "Master Liu, don't you eat together?"
Liu Zongyi smiled and shook his head: "No, Secretary Chai..."
After saying that, Liu Zongyi turned around and left the flower hall.
Chai Yan wanted to say no, but then he thought that it would be difficult to find an inn in the city that would be open for business on New Year's Day. Since Liu Zongyi had a spare room here, it would save trouble.
At this time, I heard Yuan say: "What are you thinking about? Eat something, didn't you say you were hungry a long time ago..."
When Chai Yan heard the sound, he turned around and saw that the Yuan Yuan was already eating it without any courtesy.
Chai Yan couldn't help but laugh: "Madam, you are so rude..."
Yuan glanced at him and said, "You actually have the nerve to criticize me?"
Just after breakfast, Liu Zongyi came back. He told Chai Yan that the room had been arranged and it was in an inn not far from the county government office.
Then, Liu Zongyi personally sent the two of them to the inn.
On the way, Chai Yan asked Liu Zongyi about the rogue bandits in Yaozhou.
Liu Zongyi told Chai Yan that there were indeed several groups of bandits in the Yaozhou area, including near Zhengning County, but the situation was not as dangerous and serious as reported outside. At present, the imperial court had sent troops to encircle and suppress them, and it was expected that they would be effective soon.
Chai Yan asked again about the reason for the appearance of the bandits and their identities, but Liu Zongyi shook his head and expressed ignorance. Upon seeing this, Chai Yan stopped questioning.
The inn Liu Zongyi arranged for Chai Yan was an inn owned by a local. The inn was not open for business originally, but after Liu Zongyi sent someone over to inform him, the inn owner and his wife immediately packed up an upper room.
Liu Zongyi said: "Secretary Chai, Mrs. Chai can rest here with peace of mind. I will order someone to take good care of your horses and keep them in a safe manner so that the Secretary and Madam will be on their way."
"Then thank you so much, Mr. Liu!" Chai Yan thanked him.
"Secretary Chai is too polite..." Liu Zongyi respectfully handed over his hand: "I won't disturb you two from resting. I'll take my leave first..."
Before leaving, Liu Zongyi once again told the innkeeper to greet Chai Yan and his wife well. The innkeeper bowed and nodded in agreement.
After coming out of the inn, Liu Zongyi took the boy and walked to the county government office.
Along the way, Liu Zongyi always looked sullen and worried. Seeing that he was on the street, the boy didn't dare to ask.
It wasn't until he returned to the Yamen that the boy said, "Master, what are you worried about?"
Liu Zongyi paused, looked back in the direction of the inn, and asked, "If it were you, someone from the Wude Division would break into your door on New Year's Day, how would you feel?"
The boy then said: "Sir, didn't Mr. Chai say that they are going to Yaozhou to visit their relatives, not..."
"He said he said it!" Liu Zongyi immediately turned around and asked, "You believe it when he said it?"
The boy couldn't answer the conversation.
Liu Zongyi said: "When will they leave Zhengning County, when will I feel truly relieved!"
The boy nodded quickly.
Liu Zongyi continued to walk toward the inner courtyard, but as soon as he entered the inner courtyard, the doorman suddenly stopped. The boy who was following him couldn't react and bumped into the master's back.
The boy quickly backed away and asked in confusion: "Master, what's wrong?"
"Stop arguing!" Liu Zongyi raised his hand to stop the boy, and then began to mutter to himself: "The name Chai Yan... I always feel like I have seen it somewhere, but I just can't remember it for the moment...
..”
The young man didn't dare to disturb the master's thinking, and stood quietly waiting beside him.
Liu Zongyi stood at the door and thought for a long time, then suddenly ordered the boy: "Go quickly and find me all the recent newspapers!"
"I know, Master!" The boy turned around and ran away.
Not long after, the boy brought a pile of residence reports to Liu Zongyi, and Liu Zongyi hurriedly looked through them.
Dibao is the official newspaper of the imperial court. It mainly publishes the emperor's edicts, edicts, memorials and official documents issued by ministers, as well as border war reports and other news.
The boy wanted to help the master share his worries, so he said: "Master, what are you looking for? Let me help you..."
Liu Zongyi did not answer and continued to read the newspaper in front of him.
Suddenly, Liu Zongyi stopped browsing, stared at a text in the Di newspaper and said: "I found it, it turns out to be him!"
The boy was very curious and quickly approached and looked at the newspaper in the master's hand.
Liu Zongyi simply put the residence report into the boy's hand, pointed to the text and said: "Look, this Chai Yan is the Baron Anping Marquis who was newly conferred by the imperial court not long ago!"
The boy quickly took a look at it and said with a shocked expression: "Master, it's really true..."
Liu Zongyi seemed to have remembered something again, so he took the newspaper back to his residence, read it, and read: "A reward of 100 acres of fields, 100 stones of grain, 100 pieces of silk, and a good horse from Liangzhou...
..A good horse?”
After thinking for a while, Liu Zongyi said: "Let's go to the stables!"
Liu Zongyi walked quickly around to the stables. At this time, the stable servants were feeding the horses. Seeing the county magistrate coming, he hurriedly ran over to pay New Year greetings.
"Where are the distinguished guest's two horses?" Liu Zongyi asked the busboy.
The handyman immediately took Liu Zongyi to Chai Yan and Yuan's horses.
Liu Zongyi asked the servant again: "I want to ask you, do these two horses have any special marks on them?"
The handyman shook his head and said: "Master, the young one was busy feeding the horse just now, and he hasn't..."
"Why don't you look for it quickly?" Liu Zongyi interrupted.
The handyman nodded quickly and ran to search for the two horses.
All horses awarded by the royal family will have special marks on their bodies. Liu Zongyi wanted to confirm the horse to ensure that Chai Yan in the newspaper was the one he was looking for!
Soon, the handyman shouted: "I found the master, there is a brand on this horse!"
Liu Zongyi hurriedly walked into the stable, took a closer look, and immediately shouted: "That's him, that's right!"
The handyman was curious about the shape of the mark on the horse and couldn't help but ask: "Sir, what kind of mark is this?"
Liu Zongyi's face turned stern, and he immediately turned around and said, "Remember, this is the mark that only royal horses have. This horse is a gift from the royal family. If something goes wrong if you fail to take care of it, I will only ask you!"
"ah!"
The handyman was shocked when he heard this. Under the sudden increase in pressure, his legs began to weaken.
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PS: Little New Year is coming soon. I wish all my book friends a happy Little New Year in advance and good mood for reading!