Chapter 192 Harassment

Chapter 192: Disturbance

Meng Wan returned home in a restless state, clutching that piece of soap. After instructing Huang Ye not to let anyone disturb him, he locked himself in the study to calm down for an entire day.

From the moment he first saw the soap, coupled with its current origin and value, Meng Wan suspected that the person who made it was most likely someone from the same world as him—or perhaps from another parallel universe.

His thoughts wandered; his emotions were complex and hard to articulate. All kinds of feelings surged within him. The other world seemed so far away, like a past life.

To be honest, Meng Wan didn’t have much nostalgia for the past. He now had a lover, a family, children, friends, and his own achievements. He had no regrets and nothing to be dissatisfied with.

Thinking this way, his heart calmed down considerably, and he began to formulate a plan.

Indeed, Meng Wan felt more wariness than joy toward this unfamiliar "fellow traveler." They were strangers after all. Meng Wan wouldn’t let his guard down just because they came from the same place, nor would he foolishly rush into some "meeting an old friend in a distant land" act.

He only hoped that person would keep a low profile and not drag him into trouble.

But now it seemed that the other party had no such intention. That made things tricky.

If the soap maker was unaware of Meng Wan’s identity, then any future trouble from his ostentatious actions would be his own problem. But if he had some guess about Meng Wan’s origins and one day found himself in deep trouble, he might very well sell Meng Wan out.

After all, in this world, they were absolute anomalies. Talk of gods and spirits would only invite suspicion and fear. The more this person sought the limelight now, the more others would regard him with wariness and terror when he was eventually questioned or doubted, eager to eliminate him.

Human hearts are fickle. One’s life and future should never be entrusted lightly to another.

Currently, the most conspicuous thing Meng Wan had was cement. But strictly speaking, he hadn’t invented it himself, so he wasn’t afraid of anyone investigating.

He handed the sugar workshop to Bi Yun and the lotus root workshop to Tang Jinshuang, leaving himself clean as the County Magistrate’s husband.

Oh, and he had to write a letter to Song Tingzhou, warning him to be careful of this person.

Having sorted out his thoughts, Meng Wan had barely managed a day of quiet self-cultivation at home when his peace was shattered.

"Sir, you are the County Magistrate of Shakeng County, aren’t you? Why are you not at your own yamen, but instead making a ruckus at the Heshan County yamen?" Meng Wan had been summoned to the yamen early in the morning by Chief Clerk Qiao, still full of morning grumpiness.

The Magistrate of Shakeng County had inexplicably brought over a hundred yamen runners to make a scene at the Heshan yamen, deliberately choosing a time when Song Tingzhou was away.

The Deputy Magistrate and the Scribe, being of low rank, couldn’t stop him, so they had to invite Meng Wan over.

Little did Hu Ti know that while he was swaggering and shouting in the front hall, he was stunned into silence when he saw Meng Wan and turned around.

The private secretary at his side knew too well what his master was like. He tugged at Hu Ti’s robe a few times, but got no reaction. Seeing the Heshan yamen runners and the Deputy Magistrate watching closely, he had no choice but to pinch Hu Ti hard.

Hu Ti felt the pain but only frowned slightly, then straightened his back, flicked his sleeves, and with a firm gaze, assumed what he thought was the most dashing posture. "Beautiful one, I wish to marry you as my principal wife, with mountains and seas as our matchmaker, and promise you eternal companionship…"

Meng Wan: "?"

What kind of freak was this? Hadn’t he heard Chief Clerk Qiao just say, "This is our County Magistrate Song’s husband"?

Unable to help himself, Meng Wan rolled his eyes. "Your Excellency Hu, if you came all the way from Shakeng County just to disregard your official position and decency by flirting with a colleague’s husband, then you can leave now. When my husband returns, I will relay every word to him and have him report to the court, asking what kind of reasoning this is."

Hu Ti’s private secretary felt a chill—this husband was sharp-tongued and hard to deal with. It was all his master’s fault, a lecher who couldn’t walk straight when he saw a beauty.

"Sir? Weren’t we here to demand people? Think of your beautiful concubines…"

"What concubines? With this one, I can trade my whole backyard of beauties!" Hu Ti’s eyes were infatuated. He took two steps forward, trying to get closer to Meng Wan. "Don’t be angry, beauty. I mean no disrespect. I was simply stunned by your peerless beauty."

After all, he had passed the imperial examinations. Hu Ti cleared his throat. "Ah~ brows like distant mountain peaks, eyes like autumn waters…"

Meng Wan only felt that this Shakeng County Magistrate had a screw loose. He shouted impatiently, "Xue Sheng!"

"Lips more vibrant than spring peach blossoms… Ah! Who dares strike the county magistrate!"

The next second, Hu Ti, who had been still reciting poetry and acting dashing, was knocked back by Xue Sheng’s fist.

Meng Wan sneered. "Since Your Excellency Hu doesn’t appreciate kindness, don’t blame Heshan for not welcoming you."

His words were like a command. The yamen runners and bailiffs in the county yamen stared menacingly at the Shakeng County people.

Hu Ti felt deeply wronged. "Why must you be so heartless, beauty? I only wanted a few more words with you."

The private secretary watched the County Magistrate’s husband already heading toward the back office, feeling even more aggrieved than Hu Ti. How had he ended up with such a useless master!

When Lord Song had led people to Shakeng County, he was so tough and domineering, even taking away Hu Ti’s concubines in one fell swoop! But as soon as his master saw the man’s husband, he couldn’t even walk straight, doing nothing but making a fool of himself. The Heshan yamen runners were all laughing, and the private secretary felt his old face had nowhere to hide.

The secretary grabbed Hu Ti, who was covering his bruised nose and bloodied face and still trying to run after Meng Wan. "Sir, since you don’t want to pursue the matter of the missing concubines from before New Year, let’s return to Shakeng County."

Hu Ti shook him off, revealing a blackened eye and still-bleeding nose, and said in a muffled voice, "Return? Song Tingzhou took so many of my beauties, he should give me his husband as compensation."

The Heshan yamen runners watched coldly as he spouted nonsense. Tao Jiu wished he could blacken the other eye too.

Seeing that if they didn’t leave soon, the Heshan yamen runners would be unable to hold back from violence, the private secretary’s head was buzzing, his brain addled. With his last shred of energy, he pleaded, "Sir, let’s go. Perhaps Lord Song’s husband was scared because we came with so many people…"

"You’re right! We came empty-handed with so many people. The little beauty must have been frightened. Let me return to Shakeng County, freshen up, and bring many gifts and jewels. Then he will surely look at me differently."

The private secretary: "…"

Yes, yes, yes. As long as you go, everything you say is right. My great living father, being your subordinate is truly my blessing!

Meng Wan had been harassed for no reason, and even after having Xue Sheng hit the man, he still felt unsatisfied. "Xue Sheng, go tell the gate guards that from now on, don’t let just anyone into the city. Check carefully."

"Yes, husband." Xue Sheng received the order and hurried out, but soon returned with Tao Jiu. "Husband, Archivist Tao said that two yamen runners from Shakeng County were sneaking around near the prison."

Meng Wan narrowed his eyes. "So that’s it. I thought it was too absurd for him to make such a big fuss just for a few concubines."

Pacing a few steps in the room, Meng Wan gave orders: "Tao Jiu, later when no one’s looking, move Chen Chong and Chen Yunmo to the tax storeroom and lock them up separately. Keep two men on duty at the entrance as usual. Xue Sheng, you personally keep an eye on them in the tax storeroom."

Tao Jiu asked, "Husband, what about the prison?"

"Find two clever ones, dress them sloppily so their faces are hard to recognize. If someone tries to rescue them, let them take our men away." Meng Wan’s thoughts became clearer.

Soon after, Meng Wan also summoned Chu Ci, who took a few packets of his powders and handed them to Tao Jiu.

That night, Meng Wan hardly slept a wink, worrying about the prison matter. At dawn, Tao Jiu came to report that Inspector Huang and Tao Qi had been taken by the kidnappers.

"Husband, should we follow the trail they left to find them now?" Tao Jiu asked.

"Of course we should. This time, you stay and guard the criminals. Xue Sheng, take all the bailiffs and go." Meng Wan instructed Xue Sheng, "Have the bailiffs hide in ambush around the area first. You scout the situation, then capture them. If you can’t win, retreat to the yamen to save your lives. Don’t fight recklessly."

Chu Ci’s poisons and sleeping powders had been carried in large quantities by Inspector Huang and Tao Qi, who were disguised as Chen Chong and Chen Yunmo in the prison. This time, Xue Sheng also took several packets.

Thinking all was secure, he never expected Xue Sheng to be gone for three days. During those three days, Meng Wan was anxious about their safety. Then Hu Ti, that blind lecher, came knocking again.

This time, Hu Ti had learned his lesson. He didn’t bring a large retinue of subordinates and nagging private secretary. Just himself and two servants as dark as charcoal.

Hu Ti wore a white robe, spotless boots, a jade pendant at his waist, a silver crown studded with pearls on his head, and lightly shook a folding fan… Still, it didn’t look good.

The two dark-faced servants only made him seem a shade whiter, and that was all. His face, ordinary and greasy, with the black eye from Xue Sheng’s punch still not faded, no matter how he dressed up, he looked no different—only more oily, making Meng Wan feel nauseous at the sight.

Had it not been for wanting to extract a few words from him, Meng Wan wouldn’t have shown his face at all. But now that he saw Hu Ti’s infatuated expression, he wondered if such a fool was just a scapegoat. Could he really know any inside information?

"I wonder what brings County Magistrate Hu to Heshan again. As I recall, county magistrates have no valid reason to leave their posts, do they? I could overlook your last visit, but coming again—I, a mere back-courtyard xiaoge, fear I may not offer proper hospitality." Meng Wan wore a simple thin long gown, with plain hair ornaments, his words were needles wrapped in silk, each sentence pointing out Hu Ti's breach of protocol.

"Ever since I laid eyes on you, I've thought of you day and night, longing to be by your side always. I only hope you'll take pity on my sincere devotion and grant me your favor." But whether Hu Ti was too dense to understand or simply blinded by lust, he ignored everything else, strutting like a peacock. With his black-and-blue eye, he looked less like a county magistrate and more like a monkey performer.

Meng Wan sneered, "Since you refuse to answer me properly and have repeatedly mocked me under the guise of your official position, don't blame me for being discourteous in return."

Seeing Meng Wan's slight anger, Hu Ti hastily said, "You misunderstand me! My devotion to you is as bright as the sun and moon!"

Meng Wan stood up and looked left and right.

Good. He dares to come harass me with only two men—brave of him. Did he truly think I was someone to be trifled with?

Meng Wan sat back down and downed a cup of tea in one gulp as if it were wine. "Tao Jiu, invite County Magistrate Hu to spend a day in the lockup, and treat him well." He stressed the last four words heavily.

The next morning, the county magistrate of Shakeng was dragged outside the city gate, beaten like a dead dog, drawing a crowd of onlookers.

The adviser of the Shakeng magistrate was waiting outside the city. Covering his face, he ordered his men to drag him onto the carriage.

That night, Xue Sheng and Inspector Huang finally returned with their party, bringing back more than a dozen corpses.

Inspector Huang looked ashamed. "Master, we couldn't take a single one alive. The moment they realized they'd been discovered, they all bit off their tongues."

This outcome took Meng Wan completely by surprise. He looked at the bodies the bailiffs carried back—some with lips slightly pursed, a trickle of red at the corners, others with mouths wide open, their mouths filled with blood.

Meng Wan turned his head away. "Forget it. As long as you're all safe, it's fine. Just make sure to strengthen the prison patrols—no fewer than ten men per group."

"Yes!"

---

That evening, Meng Wan hunched over his desk writing a letter to Song Tingzhou, omitting Hu Ti's nonsensical ramblings and extracting a few key points.

First, Hu Ti might know a little about the inside story, but certainly not much—otherwise, with his head nearly on the line, he wouldn't still be leisurely coming to Heshan County.

Second, Chen Chong and Chen Yunmo were far more valuable than they had imagined, worth the mastermind's efforts from testing the waters to even attempting a jailbreak in Song Tingzhou's absence.

Third, the ten dead men were all death warriors. When the mission failed, none fled, none survived—clean and decisive, not the sort of force a petty household could train.

The more Meng Wan wrote, the graver his expression became. In the letter, he urged Song Tingzhou to be extremely cautious in the capital and absolutely never to return to Lingnan alone, and preferably to come back with Qin Jiao and the others.

His brush paused on the paper; the ink had grown pale. He dipped it again and continued, warning that if Song encountered anyone acting suspiciously or probing him, he should be wary—they likely meant no good.

Meng Wan wrote until late into the night, and even had to refill the oil lamp once. The next morning, a light rain began to fall. Holding an umbrella, he personally delivered the letter to the courier station through a thin, chilly mist.

The courier service was always faster than shipping by human porters; they had designated routes, traveling day and night without rest, each courier handing off to the next at the next station.

The letter traveled for over a thousand li from south to north, finally reaching the capital of Yu—Shengjing City—twenty days later.

At the courier station, someone easily retrieved the letter and handed it to another person. Coincidentally, Shengjing also saw rain that day. Through the curtain of rain, the person seated inside could only be discerned as a tall, upright man, with two or three attendants beside him.

"Master, a letter from Heshan has been intercepted."

A pampered hand took the letter. "Heshan? The place where that recently prominent Song Tingzhou is stationed?"

The attendant replied, "Yes, Master. Heshan County of Xiwu Prefecture."

The man tore open the envelope. "Oh, it's from his husband. Fine handwriting."

Dead silence reigned. Not a sound could be heard. The man flipped through two pages, then tossed the letter onto the table. "Merely sentimental private matters from the rear courtyard. Send it back to the courier station."

"Yes."