Several carriages rolled into Taoyuan Town, and two white-haired heads poked out from the windows.
"Apart from being a bit smaller, it's every bit as lively as the main streets of Qingjiang Prefecture."
"I suppose it's decent enough."
An old woman in black jacket and trousers, wearing a red armband, stepped forward to meet the carriages. "Is this your first visit to Taoyuan Town?"
The coachman-attendant had once been insufferably arrogant, but after witnessing his master nearly killed, he had learned to keep himself in check. And this place was, after all, the stronghold of those formidable people—so he climbed down from the carriage with the utmost courtesy and bowed at the waist. "Yes, grandmother, we've come from out of town. Do you have any instructions for us?"
The two masters seated in the carriage watched their attendant's deferential display and said nothing.
The old woman was rather taken aback. Where on earth had these gentlemen come from, to have such fine manners?
Common folk generally assumed that anyone who could afford a carriage was a lord of some kind.
"No need to be so formal with an old woman like me. I'm just here to welcome visitors from out of town, offer some guidance, and go over a few necessary points."
"For instance, no relieving yourselves in public. If the horses make a mess, you're responsible for cleaning it up—though we do have small bags that can be fitted over the horses' hindquarters."
"As for renting lodgings…"
Old age had made her fond of talk, and once she started, there was no stopping her. Yet the attendant listened with patient attention throughout.
"Oh my, listen to me ramble—I haven't even asked what brings you here. Do you need directions?"
"Grandmother, in our carriages are the father and father-in-law of Magistrate Lin, here to call on the Town Mayor."
"Magistrate Lin? Oh my, so these are Deputy Mayor Lin's father and father-in-law! Distinguished guests indeed, distinguished guests!"
"Lao Zhao, come take over my shift—I'll escort these gentlemen to the town office!"
Ordinary folk naturally knew nothing of the unpleasantness that had passed between them, so the warm-hearted old woman cheerfully led the party to the town government building. A young clerk at the door brought the two old men to the Mayor's office.
He knocked.
"Come in."
"Mayor, Deputy Mayor Lin's father and father-in-law are here to pay a visit." The young clerk said his piece and withdrew.
The two old men stepped inside with some awkwardness.
In addition to Jinyi and several young people, Jinyuan was there as well. She had only returned a couple of days ago and had already taken charge of Jinxiu's financial and commercial affairs. For the past few days she had been occupying her elder sister's office, working alongside her—and Jinyi hadn't said a word about it.
At the sight of the two old men, Jinyuan gave a dissatisfied huff and bent her head back to her work.
"Guests are guests. Please, gentlemen, take a seat. Bring tea."
Jinyi wore black jacket and trousers much like those of the old woman at the town entrance—only somewhat more refined—giving her a manner that was solemn and composed.
The two old men sat down. Lin's father-in-law spoke first. "The reason we've come…"
Jinyi paid him no mind. She simply looked steadily at Lin's father across from her.
That calm, unwavering gaze seemed to radiate an immense, wordless pressure.
"Mayor Zhao." Lin's father-in-law tried again. Jinyi remained unmoved, and now even he felt a creeping unease.
A full two or three minutes passed. Just when Lin's father felt the pressure pressing down so heavily that he was on the verge of breaking into a sweat, Jinyi finally spoke, unhurried and measured.
"The gentleman who declared that my master had no loyalty to his sovereign, no filial regard for his father, no faithfulness, no righteousness, no sense of shame, and no virtue—would that be this elder before me?"
"Then may I ask how it is that this paragon of loyalty, filial piety, faithfulness, righteousness, shame, and virtue did not remain in Liujing to help His Majesty reclaim the imperial city, drive out the northern barbarians, and pacify the displaced masses?"
"What brings such a man to our modest little corner of the world?"
"Our master is idle and untalented—he lacks the ability to be of service to His Majesty. Compared to this esteemed elder, he is no more than the glow of a firefly, hardly fit to rival the brilliance of the moon. The suffering of the people of this realm must surely rest in the capable hands of gentlemen such as yourselves. We can only hope that you will soon help His Majesty restore the capital. We would not dream of wasting any more of your precious time—please, do not let us keep you."
A long torrent of words, not a single profanity among them—only fine and polished expressions—yet every sentence drove straight into the other man's chest like a blade.
*You plunged the realm into chaos, while we built something flourishing out of nothing. All these gracious words about "hoping you will soon" do this or that—and beneath them, pure contempt for a pair of men who had accomplished nothing. Now kindly get out.*
"Ha, Mayor Zhao, we had hoped to pay a visit to…"
"Elder, I have a rather cordial relationship with Madam Lin."
*Stop talking. Keep this up and whatever goodwill exists between me and your daughter will be gone too. You think you're worthy of calling on my master? Who do you think my master is—someone to be called upon by just anyone?*
Lin's father-in-law had no recourse. He stretched his face into a reluctant smile, said they would not impose any further, and rose to leave, pulling his old friend along with him.
Out the door, Lin's father-in-law pressed his hand to his forehead—though there was no sweat there—and sighed with feeling. "Formidable indeed. Xuejin wasn't lying to us."
"It seems we have no chance of meeting this Master Zhao, at least not for now. Let's go—back to Qingjiang Prefecture."
Lin's father said nothing. His face had gone slightly green. The force of that young woman's presence had been overwhelming.
Could this truly be just a girl?
He felt as though he had glimpsed the late Emperor himself—a genuine sense that to stand beside the sovereign was to stand beside a tiger.
…
"Wow, Elder Sister, you were incredible! That foul-mouthed old man couldn't get a single word in—that was so satisfying!" Jinyuan shrieked and threw herself at Jinyi, bouncing with excitement.
Jinyi smiled and ruffled Jinyuan's hair. "Feeling better?"
"Yes! Immensely better! Did you see his face when he walked out? It had gone completely green!"
The other young people in the room looked at Jinyi with undisguised admiration, each privately wishing they might one day command such presence.
"I found it rather satisfying too. Truth be told, I was genuinely a little angry."