Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Today I must help you realize your wish
Qi Huang waited for only a moment before Governor Niu, accompanied by several constables, hurried to meet her. This showed how much influence she currently held.
“I apologize for not welcoming Your Excellency, the friend of Immortal Qi, sooner!”
Governor Niu did not ask for her identity and cupped his fists in greeting from afar, demonstrating his shrewdness.
“Your Excellency is too kind. I am merely an ordinary person. How could I possibly trouble you to come out so far to greet me?”
Qi Huang said sarcastically.
“Young master, you are too modest. Immortal Qi is an Imperial Concubine personally appointed by His Majesty. Her friends are naturally outstanding individuals, how could they be ordinary people?”
Governor Niu offered his insincere flattery, his eyes, which were fat and reduced to mere slits, sizing up the uninvited guest with an impassive gaze. He found this person to be mysterious, wearing a black cloak and a loose black robe, with not a inch of skin visible. Furthermore, he was extremely slender, and his voice was quite androgynous. It was difficult to even determine his gender, let alone his background.
“Governor Niu certainly knows how to speak.”
Qi Huang continued to mock him. If someone else had praised her like this, she would have been delighted, but not this person. He had previously colluded with the deputy shopkeeper of Juyin Auction House to embezzle unclaimed relics. Although not the mastermind, he was an accomplice.
“Young master, you flatter me. May I know your surname, and what is your relationship with Immortal Qi?”
Governor Niu asked cautiously.
“My surname is Huang. I am a close friend of Immortal Qi. This is her Immortal Elder waist token.”
Qi Huang casually replied, then presented her Immortal Elder waist token.
“Young Master Huang, please come in. It’s almost time for dinner. I will have someone prepare some small dishes, and we can have a few drinks.”
After carefully examining the waist token, Governor Niu’s attitude became even more enthusiastic.
“I will not trouble Governor Niu further. I have other matters to attend to.”
Qi Huang politely declined, as she had no interest in drinking with such a person.
“May I know what matters young master needs to attend to?”
Governor Niu inquired cautiously.
“To help someone fulfill a wish. I promised him before, so I must do it.”
Qi Huang stated her reason for coming.
“Fulfill a wish?”
Governor Niu was taken aback. He exchanged glances with his subordinates and then asked curiously, “May I know whose wish young master intends to fulfill?”
“It’s Constable Peng from your Prefecture Office. Please have Governor Niu find him for me.”
Qi Huang commanded expressionlessly.
“As expected of Immortal Qi’s friend. You came to the Prefecture Office in person, and it’s to help Constable Peng fulfill his wish. Even the gods in heaven would be ashamed.”
Governor Niu was genuinely surprised this time.
“Yes, I think so too.”
Qi Huang agreed wholeheartedly.
“May I know what Constable Peng’s wish is? Can Master help this subordinate fulfill a wish as well?”
Governor Niu’s eyes darted around as he quickly asked. Since this person was Immortal Qi’s friend, he might have some abilities.
“Alright, but everything is first-come, first-served. You send for Constable Peng first.”
Qi Huang said with a half-smile.
“Yes, yes, yes!”
Governor Niu bowed obsequiously and then ordered someone to find Constable Peng.
Shortly after, Constable Peng came running over happily. Judging by his relaxed and carefree expression, he clearly thought it was just a routine matter.
“My Lord, may I know why you summoned this humble subordinate…”
Constable Peng began to speak instinctively, but at that very moment, he saw Qi Huang clearly, and his expression changed drastically. His face looked as if he had just heard of his parents’ sudden death.
“It’s not me who’s looking for you, it’s this young master. ‘He’ said he’s here to help you fulfill your wish. May I know what wish you intend to have ‘him’ fulfill for you?”
Governor Niu, still unaware of the situation, asked with a relaxed expression.
Constable Peng’s mind went blank, and he didn’t even notice what Governor Niu was saying. He never dreamed that this person would come knocking on his door, so relentlessly. If the other party made a move, his delaying tactics would have no chance to be employed.
“Constable Peng, why are you standing there stunned? I’m asking you a question!”
Governor Niu spoke again, slightly displeased.
“This…”
Constable Peng snapped back to reality, stammering and unable to speak a complete sentence.
“Allow me to help you say it.”
Qi Huang said enthusiastically, “Constable Peng wants to go home and farm, but he’s afraid you won’t allow it, so he wants to ask me to plead on his behalf to you.”
“That’s it?”
Governor Niu’s mind struggled to process the information. He turned to Constable Peng and asked, “Is this your wish?”
“No… no… it’s not like that.”
Constable Peng anxiously retorted, but he dared not argue face to face. In his anxiety, sweat broke out on his forehead.
“What’s going on here?”
Governor Niu was not foolish and quickly realized that this person’s claim of helping with wishes was a pretense; he was actually here to cause trouble.
“Actually, it’s like this…”
Qi Huang briefly explained what had happened before and then said with conviction, “Constable Peng swore in front of everyone that as long as Juyin Auction House opened its doors tonight, he would go back to farming. Now that Juyin Auction House is open, do you think he should keep his promise? As a constable of the dignified Governor’s Mansion, if he doesn’t keep his word, how will your authority be maintained in the future?”
Governor Niu’s face turned ashen upon hearing this. He then fell silent. If he dismissed Constable Peng, not only would he lose a capable subordinate, but his authority would also be undermined. After all, he was a governor of a prefecture; how could he be ordered around by any Tom, Dick, or Harry?
“But if I don’t dismiss him, I will offend an Imperial Concubine appointed by His Majesty.”
Governor Niu made a quick calculation and soon knew what to do. Although Qi Huang might not become the Empress with absolute certainty, it was not worth taking such a risk for trivial gains. Therefore, Constable Peng had to be dismissed, but a suitable reason must be found so as not to damage his official dignity.
“Constable Peng, I recall my previous order to you was only to bring back the relics. Why did you take it upon yourself to seal Juyin Auction House?”
Governor Niu began to question after some deliberation.
“My Lord… you’re wrong… I didn’t want to do that, but the people at Juyin Auction House were too arrogant. If we don’t teach them a lesson, how can we command respect in the future? What about your authority, my Lord?”
Constable Peng desperately tried to argue.
“How dare you! Not only did you disobey my orders, but you even tried to implicate me. It seems you truly refuse to repent! Guards, strip this man of his official uniform and throw him out.”
Governor Niu commanded in anger.
Several constables, not daring to disobey, quickly apprehended Constable Peng.
“What a cunning old fox.”
Qi Huang sneered disdainfully. She understood that this old fox was doing this to give outsiders the illusion that this was an internal matter of the Governor’s Mansion, unrelated to her as an outsider. This way, his official dignity would be preserved.
“Young master, I have already punished that Constable Peng. Are you satisfied?”
Governor Niu turned around and asked with a half-smile.
“So-so. But Governor Niu seems quite satisfied. Your mouth is about to split from smiling.”
Qi Huang said with cold mockery.
Governor Niu’s expression stiffened. He hadn’t expected this young rascal to be so clever and see through his intentions.
“Governor Niu, I have another matter to inquire about at the Prefecture Office. Who was it that identified the victim as the client of Juyin Auction House?”
Qi Huang didn’t want to waste any more time and got straight to the point. Based on the information she had, Governor Niu should not have been complicit this time, as closing Juyin Auction House did not align with the interests of a corrupt official.
“May I ask why young master is inquiring about this matter?”
Governor Niu asked confusedly.
“Governor Niu, don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask.”
Qi Huang said impatiently.
“Yes, yes, yes.”
Governor Niu was startled and quickly replied, “To be honest, this subordinate doesn’t know who that person is either. Constable Peng was in charge of this case. He only said that an informed person provided a clue. As for who that informed person is, I have never seen them.”
‘It seems I still have to find Constable Peng!’
Qi Huang pondered inwardly, but she didn’t forget to mock, “Governor Niu, you seem to be quite idle in your position, completely uninvolved. No wonder your subordinates dare to act recklessly.”
“Uh… you can know a person’s face but not their heart! I didn’t know that Mr. Peng was this kind of person.”
Governor Niu awkwardly shifted the blame, and then said with feigned righteous indignation, “This subordinate will immediately send people to bring him back for severe interrogation!”
“No need.”
Qi Huang shook her head firmly. She didn’t want to place her hope in a den of corruption.
“By the way, Governor Niu, didn’t you just say you wanted me to help you fulfill a wish? So, do you want to farm or cultivate land?”
Qi Huang changed the subject and asked enthusiastically.
“No, no, no, I appreciate your kindness, young master. This subordinate has no wishes!”
Governor Niu’s expression changed drastically, and he shook his head faster than the hips of those women in the brothel.
“Governor Niu, there’s no need to be formal. How can a person have no wishes? Today, I must help you fulfill your wish!”
Qi Huang said with a knowing smile.
