An Oriental Odyssey

The events that followed seemed like a big dream at the County Magistrate of Luoyang. Dozens of secret salt-making workshops hiding in the city were uncovered and shut down by Zhao Lanzhi. The docks responsible for transporting and arranging the private salt, as well as the extensive transportation network involving dozens of cities, were completely uprooted. Thousands of kilos of salt, numerous salt-making tools, and a large number of suspects filled the county office prison cells and detention rooms. At the same time, the true culprit behind the murder of Qianduan Pavilion's dancer, Ru Yue, was exposed. With solid evidence, it turned out to be Young Master Xianya, the son of the Imperial Tutor. 

Both major cases were solved by his subordinate, which should have been a great thing for the County Magistrate. However, the moment he saw Xianya's name on the document, he was so scared that he lost his wits. He rolled and stopped Zhao Lanzhi, who was about to arrest someone: "Wait, Zhao Lanzhi! Think again about taking this person! You know him, right? You have a personal relationship with him! He's the third son of the Imperial Tutor!"

Zhao Lanzhi replied with a bow, "Magistrate, as the constable of the county office, I only consider the evidence, regardless of personal relationships."

"You might not care, but I do! If I say you can't go, how dare you touch anyone?! Let me tell you, put this case aside now! I need to think carefully! This is my order!"

"Your order? Can your order be greater than this?" Zhao Lanzhi took out a small, bright yellow document from his pocket, slowly shaking it in front of the County Magistrate. He didn't read the whole content, but a few words frightened him to the point that he sat on the ground. It was the imperial edict of the Empress!

Zhao Lanzhi had no time to waste and left with his men in a hurry. The County Magistrate sat on the ground for a long time, murmuring to himself: "How did Zhao Lanzhi, a mere constable, get hold of an imperial edict from the Empress?" After thinking it over, he realized that since Zhao Lanzhi was transferred from the border, his words and actions had their own reasoning. Perhaps he was the Empress's trusted confidant! The County Magistrate became cautious; he decided to let Zhao Lanzhi handle everything related to the case in the future, while he himself would only preside over the trial!

The servants of the Imperial Tutor's mansion couldn't stop the imposing official's entourage! Zhao Lanzhi and his men, including Xiaohu, drove straight to the backyard. At the same time, Official Pei, dressed in official robes, came to meet them face to face: "How Bold! Who are you people?! How dare you barge in here?!"

Zhao Lanzhi clasped his hands and saluted, "Official Pei, I am Zhao Lanzhi, the constable of Luoyang County Yamen. I am following the order in the imperial edict of the Empress to arrest your third son, Young master Xianya!"

Official Pei was furious: "You're talking nonsense! What crime has my son committed?!"

"Smuggling private salt. Murder and silencing witnesses."

Official Pei was dumbfounded for a moment.

Zhao Lanzhi continued, "Your Lordship, it's true. The recent two sensational cases in Luoyang City, the private salt case and the murder of the dancer Ru Yue, were both orchestrated by your son, Young master Xianya! The evidence is conclusive, and I am here to take him into custody!"

Official Pei couldn't believe it. Regardless of his dignity, he grabbed Zhao Lanzhi and said, "You're mistaken! You're mistaken! It's impossible! How could Xianya be a criminal? He's about to marry Princess Xinghui! You can't take him away! You can't take him away!"

While Zhao Lanzhi was entangled with Official Pei, Xianya walked out from behind. His face was pale and haggard, and he moved slowly. He walked up and held his father, then turned to look at his old friend, Zhao Lanzhi: "Let's go, I'll go with you."

Official Pei was stunned, thinking, could his good son, as virtuous and elegant as his name suggests, really be a criminal to the court? How come he seemed like a stranger to me now?

Zhao Lanzhi hesitated for a moment, but Xianya walked in front of him. Seeing the astonished eyes of his family, he thought that there were many things they didn't know. They didn't know that he had just taken opium, and he dreamed of Ruyue again. She had truly come to claim his life.

Young master Xianya surrendered.

Meanwhile, in the mansion of Official Ye, there was a joyful atmosphere.

Yuan'an was elated and jumped up three feet high: "Finally! Xiaoyu's innocence is revealed! The real culprit has been caught!"

Xiaoyu and Shitou knelt down together in front of Yuan'an: "Finally! Finally! We pay our respects to the small master! We kowtow to the small master! We owe everything to the small master! Thank you for your great kindness! Xiaoyu's life is all thanks to the young miss! You are like our parents reborn!"

As they were speaking, the young black boy was sleeping on the railing in the stable and fell onto a haystack when they called him.

Yuan'an clapped her hands and burst into laughter, asking, "What are you doing here?"

Shitou said, "He was just helping to feed the horses. He's quite capable. When the horses refused to eat the food, he would stroke their ears, and they would eat anything he offered."

Yuan'an walked over, removed the straw from the child's head, but he turned away without looking at her.

Yuan'an said, "Speaking of which, thank you for saving us from the danger that day. I haven't properly rewarded you yet! Xiaoyu and Shitou, after surviving this ordeal, I will send them back to their hometown, and from now on, you will help me take care of the horses. You'll stay here! But I need to give you a name first."

The child heard this, and turned to look at Yuan'an, his eyes shining brightly as if they held countless stars.

It was also a bit difficult for Yuan'an; she scratched her chin and thought for a while. "Originally, I wanted to call you 'Little Mute,' but you can talk, so we can't call you that. Isn't that right?"

The child nodded obediently and smiled. He still spoke with inverted word order and no structure, "Can talk, I."

Yuan'an looked at his smile, a bit mesmerized. His bright eyes, white teeth, and bronze-colored skin made him look precious and adorable. She suddenly had an idea and clapped her hands, "I've got it! When you fell from the railing just now, you looked so good when you smiled. Let's call you Mule, how about that?"

Xiaoyu said, "Mule, Mule, that name sounds nice. It suits him."

The child didn't seem to have any objections and just nodded.

Yuan'an put her hand on his shoulder and happily said, "Alright, you'll be called Mule. Repeat after me, Mule? Mule?"

Yuan'an repeated, "Mule?"

The child tried cautiously, "Mm."

Yuan'an was pleased and called out his name repeatedly, "Mule, Mule, Mule!"

The child also became happy and followed her with a series of responses, "Mm, mm, mm."

Yuan'an pointed to herself, "Call me, call me small master."

The child's joyful face disappeared instantly. He turned his head away, no longer paying attention to Yuan'an.

Stone tugged at his clothes, "Mule, call her small master. It's the rule in the mansion. We are servants, and that's how we address the small master. Come on, say it quickly!"

The child suddenly jumped up and quickly climbed a tree, jumping a few times before disappearing from sight.

Shitou stomped his feet below, "Hey! This child is good at everything, except understanding rules!"

Yuan'an said, "It's okay. Let him be."

She noticed something: despite his young age, he had a strong temper. He disliked hearing her being called the master, yet he would do things as the best and most obedient slave.