Cang Lan Dao - Chapter 21.2
Chapter 21.2
This drawing, is it Lord Zhang’s handiwork?
At this time, it had been cold and clear in front of the Inspection Department’s gate.
A red-clothed youth sitting in front of the gate while looking at the incense burner in annoyance: “The one who should come had come, and the one who did not should be dead. Go and ask the Departement Master, are we still waiting?”
When the attendant standing behind heard him, he immediately trotted in. Not a moment later, the attendant ran out and respectfully said: “Zhu Que, Master said to wait until the last moment.”
“Wait, wait, wait! It’s been a whole afternoon of waiting, and I haven’t seen anyone. It’s already this time. Who else will come?”
The red-clothed youth looked at the incense in the incense burner that was about to burn out, impatiently changed his position, and started picking his nails, cursing, “It’s already this late. What good seedling can there be? It must be a waste. What’s there to wait for?” He said on one side and cursed on the other, “Is this for that old eunuch from the Imperial Palace and that folk prince to see? Every day they only know how to increase the work for us, but never our salary. I have a lot of things to do ……”
“Zhu Que Ambassador,” listening to the youth cursing around, the attendant whispered, “Lower your voice. Don’t let others hear it.”
The red-clothed youth sniffed and rolled his eyes, turning back to see the almost burnt-out incense in the incense burner. He hurriedly stood up and said happily, “Time’s up, quick, pack up and close the door.”
“Zhu Que Ambassador,” the attendant was flustered, “This — this is still left a little bit.”
“It’s just a little bit. Pack up your things. We’ll close the gate when the time comes,” Zhu Que made a gesture to close the door, “Isn’t it just right? Hurry.” Zhu Que took matters into his own hands and started carrying chairs inside.
With Zhu Que taking the lead, the surrounding attendants looked at each other. They dared not to stand dryly and could only follow Zhu Que to move things together. Not a moment later, they cleaned the Inspection Department’s entrance. Zhu Que was about to close the door when he heard horses’ hooves.
Leading a group of soldiers, Luo Wanqing turned a corner and saw a red-clothed youth carrying double swords about to close the door. Her eyes widened, and she raised her hand and threw the knives towards the gate.
The knives clanked into the doorway, startling Zhu Que to tilt back, and then hurriedly got up, “Who is this ……?” Before he finished speaking, he heard the sound of horses’ hooves and a woman’s urgent cry from outside the door: “Lord, wait, Yangzhou Liu Xiniang has come to report to the Inspection Department!”
Zhu Que froze. He turned to look at the last bit of incense in the incense burner while listening to the woman’s shouts, “Yangzhou Liu Xiniang has come to report to the Department of Supervision!”
“Yangzhou Liu Xiniang,” As the words fell, the woman slammed the door, creating a gap of a hand.
Luo Wanqing and Zhu Que stared at each other through the doorway. Luo Wanqing looked earnestly at the youth in front of her, who was helpless plus tired on one side, and she said, “I come to report to the Inspection Department.”
After saying this, the soldiers behind her stopped. Noticing the Inspection Department plaque, they only looked at each other and dared not to go forward.
At this moment, the incense burned out and poured into the incense burner. Zhu Que glanced at the soldiers at the gate and turned his eyes to look at Luo Wanqing. The attendant beside him reminded Zhu Que: “Lord, the incense just burned out.”
Luo Wanqing looks at Zhu Que with apprehension. Zhu Que took a deep breath, closed his eyes, released his hands on the gate, turned his head, and said: “Drive away the soldiers outside. Liu Xiniang, follow me, and I’ll lead you in to report for duty.”
Hearing this, Luo Wanqing instantly brightened up, pulled out the knife stuck in the doorway, squeezed through the gate, and respectfully saluted, “Many thanks, Lord.”
“What are you thanking me for? Thanks to your shouts, everyone will know about me closing the door early.” Zhu Que turned his back to her and said unhappily, “I’ll have my salary deducted again. Why didn’t you come earlier? Your Yangzhou peers who are traveling with you have already arrived.” Saying that, Zhu Que raised his steps towards the inner courtyard.
After the attendant negotiated with the soldiers, they didn’t pursue it again.
Luo Wanqing followed behind Zhu Que, keenly grasping the main point: “Lord, there are other people coming from Yangzhou?”
“Yes. Only one female. Others all died on the road.” Zhu Que led her into a courtyard, faintly saying, “Go in and report. Someone will lead the way for you.”
After Luo Wanqing thanked him, she pushed open the door and saw a courtyard full of people.
This courtyard wasn’t small. A small two-story building stood in front of it, with curtains hanging on the second floor, and it seemed that someone was sitting inside. The death row inmates from other areas seemed to have come long ago. When they saw Luo Wanqing come in, they looked over.
When Luo Wanqing hesitated, a male voice coming from above the steps, “Come in.”
Luo Wanqing followed the voice and looked over. On the steps stood a black-clothed youth with a tall figure and a cold gaze. Seeing Luo Wanqing looking over, he urged, “Don’t you understand what I’m saying?”
Luo Wanqing didn’t say much and hurriedly walked into the crowd, then she heard the youth say, “Time’s up, close the door.”
Then, the courtyard door was closed. Luo Wanqing swept a glance and saw Zhao Yuyan, who stood timidly in the corner, wearing a beige-colored cotton robe, with lowered eyebrows and eyes, looking very uneasy.
Besides Zhao Yuyan, Qin Jue was also there. He stood in front of her, tall and thin, wearing a green robe. The courtyard was full of vicious bandits, yet he alone carried a righteousness that none of the people around him had, looking out of place. She kept looking at him, perhaps because she stared too long and her gaze too direct, so Qin Jue turned his eyes to look.
The two stared at each other for a moment. As if the young man didn’t recognize her, he only glanced at her and then moved his gaze away.
Seeing this, Luo Wanqing knew that he wouldn’t acknowledge her. She understood this. Actually, his recognizing herself was not beneficial. She didn’t take it to her heart, lowered her eyes, and no longer looked around.
Everyone waited quietly for a while. Then, the youth on the platform took a booklet and counted the names.
The names that the youth called out should be from the government list. Many people were not present. Luo Wanqing’s heart sank when she listened to many people who did not respond. Only a hundred people were present, and the number of people who came to Dongdu was actually less than half of those who had signed up. In the face of such a tragic result, everyone seemed unconcerned.
The young man above calmly closed the booklet and said: ”I am Inspection Department Ambassador, Xuan Shan. Congratulations to all of you who passed the Inspection Department’s first examination. You all are tired from the journey, so the Inspection Department will arrange for you to have a meal and then return to your room to rest. If you have any requests, you can mention them to the attendant. Everyone must gather here tomorrow morning, and the examination will officially begin. I hope that everyone will rest well for tomorrow.” After Xuan Shan finished speaking, some attendants came up and led everyone out of the courtyard.
Luo Wanqing followed one of the maidservants out, and as she walked, she tore a section from her clothes and pulled her hair up first. In fact, she wanted to go back to her room to tidy up first, but she was too hungry to care about grooming and planned to eat meat first. She followed the maid to the dining hall. The Inspection Department knew the prisoners extremely well, arranging fixed positions for them, with the food all prepared in advance, and having many people watching, completely isolating them from the possibility of fighting.
Luo Wanqing lowered her head and ate carefully. After eating, she asked the maid for water and followed her to her room, ready to rest.
There weren’t many female prisoners who came to participate in the examination. Hence, the female prisoners could share a room with one person. After the maid briefly talked to Luo Wanqing about the requirements, such as not being allowed to go out at night, she retreated.
Luo Wanqing politely bid farewell to the other party and then closed the door. She stood in the doorway with her head bowed, looking at the wooden floor, feeling a sense of exhaustion surging up. She couldn’t help but sigh lightly. She heard a familiar voice behind her, “Traveling day and night to come here by trekking through the mountains. It’s not easy to have a chance to rest, why don’t you take a good rest? What are you sighing for?”
Hearing this, Luo Wanqing turned back in surprise and saw a youth reclining in the window.
The youth propped up his head with one hand while shaking a fan with the other, still with the same sophisticated and pretentious look.
A hint of light joy surfaced from her heart. Luo Wanqing walked forward and said suspiciously, “Why are you here? Why aren’t you resting properly?”
“An old friend has returned. I should meet her.” Qin Jue lazily propped himself up and got up, looking down at her, his gaze falling on the plum blossoms painted in the corners of her eyes. He tilted his head and laughed, “During the times I’m not around, Xiniang is having a wonderful time.”
“Thanks to your blessing, I’ve eaten wild fruits for over ten days.” Luo Wanqing joked, her tone light.
Qin Jue laughed softly, “Is your internal force running smoothly, and your endurance improved?”
Luo Wanqing froze and thought seriously before nodding, “Indeed.”
“Did you meet Zhang Yiran, Lord Zhang?” Qin Jue returned to the original topic, keenly inquiring.
Luo Wanqing froze, “How do you know?”
“Lord Zhang’s plum painting is famous all over the world. Even The Emperor has praised him. As I look at Xiniang’s face drawing,” Qin Jue came to Luo Wanqing’s front, seemingly scrutinizing the corners of her eyes for a few moments, and then lifted his eyes, seeming to smile, “Lord Zhang’s handiwork, right?”