Chapter 5: Father-Son Affection (Part 1) - Third Update: Request for Recommendations

Zheng Renji indeed could not help Yan Qing, not because he did not want to assist him. At the beginning of the year, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, Yang Guang, reorganized the prefectures into commanderies, thoroughly arranging the relationships of local administrative institutions. He established a two-tier system of commanderies and counties, ending the various chaotic situations caused by Yang Jian, Emperor Wen of Sui, in his later years. He moved his residence to Luoyang, further strengthening control over the eastern region, and ordered the construction of the Grand Canal, gathering the wealth of the empire to the River Luo area.

The Henan Governor was administered from Henan County, that is, Luoyang.

He commanded a county city including Luoyang, where the Luoyang County Magistrate ranked equal to a fifth-rank official, one level higher than Zheng Renji's rank. Under the entire Henan Governor, there was one prefect governor, one assistant official, and then the east and west Cao officials, with additional positions for chief clerk, official of merit, granary, household, military, law, and earth Cao and six other book assistants, dividing the powers of the Cao officials.

After Emperor Yang moved his residence to Luoyang, court officials also arrived one after another in Luoyang.

Under the Silian Inspectorate, there were two other judges, each overseeing criminal cases in Chang'an and Luoyang. Thus, serving in Luoyang was extremely painful, with various restrictions in place. Even Zheng Renji, as Luoyang County Magistrate, did not dare to act arbitrarily in favor or against justice.

Yan Qing said in distress, "Is there really no way?"

"This depends on how the memorial they submit to the Yezhe Office describes the crimes of Xiong Dahai. If they can make some concessions, everything will be easy. But those people in the Yezhe Office... Yan Qing, it's not that I don't want to help, it's just that I don't have the ability."

Having said this, Yan Qing understood that Zheng Renji was indeed powerless.

He rose and bowed, "Uncle's ability to inquire into the news is already a great help to Yan Qing, and Yan Qing is grateful beyond words."

He prepared to take his leave, but Yan Shigu suddenly called out to him.

"Yan Qing, you can also ask others about this matter."

"Please, give me your guidance, sir."

Yan Shigu coughed lightly, "The Yezhe Office has already submitted the memorial to the Luoyang County. Ordinary people probably cannot obtain the memorial. Since the memorial cannot be obtained, we don't know how those fellows in the Yezhe Office established the charges, and naturally there is no way to proceed.

Although the Luoyang County is under the Henan Governor, criminal cases still require inspection by the Silian Inspectorate.

If we can obtain the memorial from the Luoyang County, at least we can know how the Yezhe Office established the charges, and there would be a trail to follow."

Although Yan Shigu did not specify who to look for, Yan Qing was not a fool and could not fail to hear the meaning in his words.

Criminal cases in the capital region must pass through inspection by the Silian Inspectorate. Currently, the imperial inspector of the Silian Inspectorate is also held by Yu Wenshu, another favored minister of Yang Guang. Yu Wenshu generally does not inquire into these matters, so the main work is done by the deputy of the Silian Inspectorate. Luoyang is also under the Silian Inspectorate's jurisdiction, and all criminal cases will be handled by the Luoyang deputy of the Silian Inspectorate.

And this Luoyang deputy is Dou Wei!

Yan Shigu knows that Yan Qing and the Dou family have a special relationship. Although he doesn't know exactly what it is, from earlier when Dou Wei was willing to stand up and testify for Yan Qing, even agreeing to host a contest with Wang Tong, one could infer there must be something to it. Moreover, Dou Wei's nephew Dou Fengjie has a very good relationship with Yan Qing.

If Yan Qing can get Dou Wei to come forward, there might still be some hope.

Yan Qing hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth, and bowed to Yan Shigu, "Sir's great virtue, the boy will remember it in his heart."

With that, he hurriedly left.

Looking at Yan Qing's departing figure, Zheng Renji suddenly said, "This child has a truly heroic spirit."

Yan Shigu also smiled, "Big brother, if this son truly helps Hongyi, who among the other five branches of the Zheng family can shake the status of the An Yuan Hall? In my opinion, we should let Hongyi and Yan Qing interact more. In the future, it will surely be of great use to the An Yuan Hall."

"What my younger brother says is very true!"

Zheng Renji secretly rejoiced in his heart, that later he had not quarreled with Yan Qing again.

This boy has quite a method. Although he no longer writes poems, his Romance of the Three Kingdoms has once again placed him at the forefront. Whether it's self-deprecating his name or running out of talent like Jiang Lang... You can't deny the sensation this novel has caused.

His move has indeed greatly alleviated the crisis brought by Zheng Dash's illness to the An Yuan Hall.

Yan Qing bid farewell to Zheng Hongyi and Xu Shiji, spurred his horse, and galloped out of the streets.

At this time, the sky was already late, and there were many pedestrians on the streets. On the Changxia Gate street, a team of vehicles was slowly advancing. Yan Qing had something on his mind and did not pay attention. Seeing the white dragon horse about to crash into the vehicle team, he reacted and quickly reined in to let them pass.

But he overlooked the origins of his white dragon horse.

A dragon horse cannot yield the way to ordinary horses. With a sharp neigh from its jade hooves, it immediately caused the pulling horses to become restless.

Yan Qing was startled and quickly stopped the jade hooves.

The driver, experienced, managed to calm the horses. Yan Qing was about to apologize when from the rear of the vehicle team, a scarlet fire dragon colt rushed out, neighing loudly at the jade hooves. Sitting on it was a young man, with clear brows and bright eyes, handsome in appearance. About the same age as Yan Qing, dressed in white robes.

"Who is the blind one, daring to act arrogant in front of my lord."

With that, the young man snatched a long whip from the driver's hand with a backhand, and without waiting for Yan Qing to speak, swung it overhead.

Yan Qing quickly pulled the reins, swerving aside.

But his white dragon horse could not be provoked. The fire dragon colt neighed in response, which was an insult to it, and it immediately became furious. The two horses charged at each other, the jade hooves biting at the fire dragon colt. The fire dragon colt didn't yield, sidestepped, swung its head, and collided with the jade hooves.

This caused chaos on the long street.

The young man's whip missed, and with a flash, it was thrown aside. He drew a long knife from behind the saddle, slashing at Yan Qing. Although Yan Qing was experienced, when a young master draws a blade to take a life, his heart also raged. He drew his horizontal knife with his backhand, using the horse's momentum to slash across.

"Hmm?"

The young man was startled, and when the horses stumbled, he dodged Yan Qing's slash by hiding in the stirrup, then countered with a backhand blow.

The two horizontal knives clashed with a clang in the air.

Yan Qing felt his arm shaken, and inwardly called out: What great strength!

The young man was equally surprised. He knew his own strength. Although the previous slash didn't use full power, it was about seventy to eighty percent. This seemingly gentle-looking young man had actually broken his horizontal knife?

After the horses stumbled, they turned their heads.

The two divine steeds seemed very excited, shaking their heads and tails, snorting. Their hooves pounded the ground rapidly, like war drums.

The two young men on horseback were both in white, handsome.

The onlookers couldn't help but call out inwardly: Sure enough, young heroes.

"Little brother, stop!"

Just as Yan Qing and the young man were about to fight again, a娇 cry came. From the vehicle team, a green cloud burst forth, the fragrance swept over, a girl rode up between them, brows erect, sternly scolding the white-robed young man.

"Sister, make way, I will surely teach this arrogant boy a lesson."

The girl wore a green long skirt, her cheeks pink as peach blossoms in March. With furrowed brows, she said, "Little brother, Father said not to cause trouble after coming to Luoyang, everything should listen to me... If you don't listen and cause more trouble, I'll send you back home."

"I..."

The young man seemed to fear the green-skirted girl, glaring angrily at Yan Qing, sheathed his knife with a clang.

"Boy, if it weren't for my sister stopping me, I'd make you suffer... If you're brave, can you leave your name?"

In Luoyang, there were many nobles who could ride a precious steed, not ordinary families.

Yan Qing didn't pay attention to the young man, sheathed his knife, and bowed to the girl on horseback: "Sister, I was rude earlier, disturbing the horses, please forgive me. I have other matters, if we meet again by chance, I will definitely hold a feast to apologize."

"You may proceed without worry."

The girl was obviously a young lady from a noble family, bowing to respond.

Yan Qing turned his horse to leave when he heard the young man behind him shout, "Coward, with such a good appearance, not even daring to leave your name?"

"Little brother!" the girl scolded angrily.

Yan Qing didn't turn back: "My name is Zheng Yanqing, from Longmen Bamboo Garden, waiting for instruction anytime!"

With a long neigh from the jade hooves, it galloped away into the distance.

The surrounding onlookers exclaimed in surprise: "So the person just now was indeed Banyuan Jun? Sure enough, his bearing is extraordinary, the name is not exaggerated!"

"He is Banyuan Jun?"

The young man was stunned, spurred his horse to the girl's side, "Sister, the boy just now was the Banyuan Jun mentioned by Uncle Ancestor?"

"I haven't seen him, how would I know?"

"Hmph, I thought he was some great figure, turns out his age is about the same as mine."

"About the same? I think it's a lot less... At least you can't write 'Once the sea was difficult to be water' or 'Three heroes fighting Lu Bu'. By the way, on the way here, you were still talking about, after meeting Banyuan Jun, you want to find him to continue the article?"

The young man was stunned, pounding his chest repeatedly.

With a dejected face, he said, "I forgot, how did I know he was Banyuan Jun!"

The girl laughed out loud, her beauty blooming, "Okay, let's hurry up. Dad is still waiting for us at home. You've caused trouble on the way, I've been annoyed too. Quickly hand you over to Dad, also to save a worry."

With that, she waved to the vehicle team to proceed, and the young man rode on the long street, gazing at the figure of Yan Qing receding into the distance.

"Haha, Longmen Bamboo Garden?"

The corners of his mouth slightly upturned, revealing a smile, he turned his horse and caught up with the vehicle team.