The County Magistrate

A single mounted man, caked in road dust, led his horse through the gate of the county seat.

County Magistrate Wang woke slowly. Without opening his eyes, he gave a light kick under the quilt. The concubine sleeping at the other end scrambled out of bed and knelt, forehead touching the floor. “Awaiting your honor’s command to dress.”

Magistrate Wang opened his eyes with a sigh. Supported by the soft hands of his wife and concubine, he sat up. He extended one hand, and a peeled willow twig was placed into his palm.

He dabbed the twig onto the fine salt held by a maidservant, put it in his mouth, and began scrubbing his teeth back and forth.

When he was nearly done, the maidservant hurriedly presented an already-prepared red sandalwood spittoon. He took a sip of warm water, swished it around in his puffed cheeks, then lowered his head and spat into the spittoon.

Just as the Magistrate closed his eyes, the maidservant holding the towel carefully began to wipe his face, stroke by meticulous stroke.

The face-wiping maidservant withdrew, and the dressing maidservants, holding his official robes, slowly surrounded him.

When the seven or eight maidservants had finally stepped back, he emerged from the bedchamber in his dark-blue official uniform, moving with measured grace.

The moment he stepped outside, a wave of heat struck him. He looked up at the already high-hanging sun, and his face immediately showed displeasure.

“Another day of this blazing sun. Not a single comfortable day lately.”

With that, he strode forward. Two maidservants holding fans hurried to follow.

He had not gone far before he reached his large administrative desk. His capable assistant, Advisor Hu, had already been waiting for some time.

“So, speak. Has anyone come beating the complaint drum today?”

The advisor, a man with a thin eight-shaped mustache, put on a fake smile. “In reply to your honor, there is only one case today. The accuser paid ten taels of silver.”

“Oh?” The Magistrate took several bites of the crystalline cold jelly noodles, speaking slowly and deliberately. “And who is the accused?”

“The accused is a horse trader from Qingqiu. He paid one tael… but it was one tael of gold.”

“Mm~! The cold jelly noodles are excellent today! A shame the portion is a bit small.”

Hearing this, Advisor Hu immediately caught the implication. “Understood, your honor. I know how to speak to them privately.”

He then pulled a sheet of paper from his bosom and began reading the complaint aloud.

The Magistrate was swaying his head, listening to the complaint, when he saw a man emerge diagonally from the ground itself.

At this bizarre sight, the Magistrate was first stunned, then a flicker of panic crossed his face. He shot to his feet, and the bowl of cold jelly noodles in his hand scattered all over the desk.

“Wh-who goes there! You dare murder an imperial official! The Supervisory Heavenly Office will not rest until—”

Li Huowang looked at the trembling man and, not bothering with pleasantries, pulled out his medallion and held it before him. “I need to ask you something.”

Seeing the medallion in Li Huowang’s hand, the Magistrate immediately shifted from behind the advisor, his face blooming into an ingratiating smile.

“Ah~! A master from the Supervisory Heavenly Office! Advisor, why are you not serving tea at once!”

“Don’t bother. I have a question for you. What happened to the people of Cowheart Village? It’s been this long; I assume you know?”

At this, the Magistrate was clearly taken aback. He leaned in and whispered to his advisor. “Advisor, what happened in Cowheart Village?”

“Your honor, have you forgotten? The whole village simply vanished. You had Constable Cao investigate it. He tried to brief you before, but you were busy at the time and didn’t listen.”

“Then what are you standing around for? Go find Cao Xin at once!”

“But the Constable is out on patrol! I truly do not know his exact location, sir.”

Hearing this, the Magistrate turned to Li Huowang with an awkward smile. “Master, how about I take you to find Constable Cao? This matter is entirely under his purview.”

“Let’s go. Quickly. I don’t have time to waste.” Seeing Li Huowang head for the door, the Magistrate and Advisor Hu hurried to follow.

Clang~! The harsh sound of a gong rang out.

“The—county—magistrate—is—setting—out—now~!”

At this deliberately drawn-out announcement, Magistrate Wang, in his official hat, bent down to climb into a blue sedan chair.

Halfway into the chair, he turned back and smiled ingratiatingly at Li Huowang. “Master, would you care to ride?”

“Just get in the chair. I don’t have time to waste.”

“Ah, yes, yes.” Smiling inwardly, the Magistrate settled into the chair. But before he could even get comfortable, Li Huowang’s next question nearly scared the soul out of him.

“With so many people missing, did you not report it to the Supervisory Heavenly Office?”

Hearing the accusing implication, the Magistrate panicked, pulling aside the curtain to shift the blame.

“Master, it’s still under investigation! If I were to report something before the facts are clear, and it turned out to be wrong—though a minor penalty for me would be nothing—it would be a grave waste to have sent your honored self on a fool’s errand, would it not?”

“Ah, I am truly sorry! It is all because my subordinates are useless! They dawdle and drag their feet on an investigation, forcing a master like you to come personally!”

“When this is all over, I must hold a feast at the Floating Jade Tower to apologize, and punish myself with three full cups!”

Li Huowang waved his hand impatiently. “Let’s go.”

If the Constable hadn’t made some discovery, he wouldn’t bother exchanging words with this blabbermouth.

With the synchronized steps of the bearers, the sedan chair swayed and creaked rhythmically.

The county seat was not large, and finding the patrolling constable was not difficult. Soon, Li Huowang spotted a man in a green uniform standing at the entrance of a brothel, laughing and joking with the women inside.

Seeing the Magistrate’s sedan chair, the constable and his runners immediately straightened their expressions. Hurriedly adjusting their hats, they began to walk with measured steps, making a show of diligently patrolling the streets.

“Ah, your honor the Magistrate!” Constable Cao saluted the passing sedan chair with clasped hands. “Your honor, you are out inspecting the people’s condition so early. Please, do not exhaust yourself for the sake of the common folk!”

“Ah, what is a little hardship for the people’s sake?” Seeing Li Huowang’s face darken, the Magistrate quickly got down to business. “Constable Cao, have you found anything in the disappearance of the people of Cowheart Village?”

“Think carefully before you answer! This master here is from the Supervisory Heavenly Office, personally handling this case!”

“Ah?” Constable Cao turned to look at Li Huowang in bewildered shock.

“But… it was the Supervisory Heavenly Office itself that took the people of Cowheart Village away.”