Fix Smile Order - CH 114

When Zhou Zhengdao finally was let in to see Zong Yinglin, Zong Yinglin vented all his suppressed anger at him, “This official only told you to keep an eye on one person, what the h*ll were you doing? He suppressed the bandit one day, and will report me the next, and you dare to sleep though it all!? You insolent fool!”

Zhou Zhengdao was terrified. He knelt on the ground and did not dare to get up. “My lord, please appease your anger. This humble official has sinned. My trip here was to report this matter to you.”

Zong Yinglin asked, “How many soldiers did he bring to suppress bandits? Where did they come from?”

Zhou Zhengdao avoided the latter question. “About a thousand.”

Zong Yinglin repeated himself, “Where did they come from?”

“dThis humble official does not know……”

“Do not know?! If you don’t know this, then what do you know?!”

Zhou Zhengdao lowered his head. “My lord, Tang Feilong was constantly on guard against me. He withholds me from many matters, and he will try his best not to let me know about any related affairs.”

Zong Yinglin had been fuming for quite a while, so he wasn’t so angry anymore. Even if he were to release his annoyance at this person, it would only be in vain. As if thinking to himself, Zong Yinglin lighty said, “In perspective of time, that barracks should not be too far from Tongling. Since he didn’t come to Chizhou, he probably requested the troops from Anqing. Strange, with what authority did Tang Feilong use to successfully request for troops from Anqing? And with just one try, he even was able to receive one thousand?”

“My lord, the person leading the army was a man with an iron mask.”

“An iron mask? That’s a good clue. Hmm, it might be because he didn’t want to be recognized, so he put on the iron mask.”

Both of them were unfamiliar with the barracks, so naturally they couldn’t guess who this mysterious person was.

Zong Yinglin put the matter aside temporarily. “Then Tang Feilong should already know about it.”

These words were a bit ambiguous, so Zhou Zhengdao asked cautiously, “What does he know?”

“Whatever you know, he knows. Oh, and what you don’t know, he also knows— that b*stard San Jei, something must have gone wrong when he tried to silence everyone from divulging our secret.”

Zhou Zhengdao’s expression changed drastically. “My lord, are you saying—?”

Zong Yinglin nodded.

“Then shall we…” Zhou Zhengdao asked as he raised his right hand and gesticulated a slitting action.

Zong Yinglin understood what he meant. “See if you can bribe him over first, if not…you can figure it out.”

—

Tan Lingyin went to Retret Hall to find the County Magistrate. The two planned to roughly estimate how much gold the mine had produced based on the confessions of the bandits.

Tang Tianyuan’s gaze fell on her hand flipping through the notes. He reminded her, “Your nails have overgrown.”

“Oh.” Tan Lingyin glanced at it, but didn’t care.

But Tang Tianyuan thought of the scene of Tan Qingchen manicuring Tan Lingyin’s nails. He took her hand, “Let me trim it for you.”

“Ah?” Tan Lingyin hurriedly withdrew her hands, “No– No need…”

As if he didn’t hear her, Tang Tianyuan took down a box from the bookshelf. It contained a manicure set and an ear cleaning set. He took out the nail clipper and a small file, and pulled Tan Lingyin over. “Sit here.”

Tan Lingyin was quite embarrassed, “It’s really unnecessary.” He was the County Magistrate after all. Although her nails had to be fixed by others, he didn’t have to do this for her…

Tang Tianyuan squinted at her, and with a sly smile, he said, “I’ll ‘cover’ your mouth if you keep talking.”

Tan Lingyin blushed and fell silent.

Tang Tianyuan held her hand, his face remained expressionless, but his heart was pounding wildly. He had wanted to manicure her nails for a long time, and now that he finally got the chance to do so, how could he not be excited?

He cut off the excess part of clean and small nails, carefully filed them round with the small filer, and then carefully wiped off the powder with a handkerchief.

His expression was very pious, as if he was treating valuable porcelain. Looking at his earnest actions, Tan Lingyin felt warm and fluffy.

But he was sure taking his time…

When Zhou Zhengdao walked into the Retreat Hall, he saw the County Magistrate was manicuring Head Commissioner Tan’s nails.

“Cough.” He couldn’t help but blush at the scene.

Tan Lingyin also blushed. She wanted to withdraw her hand, but unfortunately she couldn’t.

Tang Tianyuan glanced at Zhou Zhengdao without stopping his movements. While filing Tan Lingyin’s nails, he said to Zhou Zhengdao, “I know what you want to say.”

“My Lord?”

“Twenty thousand taels, in gold.”

Zhou Zhengdao’s jaw almost dropped. Twenty thousand taels of gold! Why don’t you just commit daylight robbery?!

Tang Tianyuan continued, “I know what you’ve done, I can pretend that I don’t know anything. But since I’ve seen the benefits, I must also have a share. There is no need to rush to answer me. Go back and discuss it with your master.”

Tang Tianyuan spoke casually, as if this matter was not worth mentioning at all. As if it was not as important as the nail file in his hand.

It was the first time Zhou Zhengdao had seen such a person. Although he was young, this County Magistrate exuded an undeniable aura that could not be violated. So much so, that he wouldn’t concede even if he were to stand next to his lord, the Prefecture Magistrate.

Zhou Zhengdao admitted that he may have really underestimated this young man.

Tang Tianyuan was a little impatient. He looked up at Zhou Zhengdao who was standing still, “Is there anything else?”

“…This humble official shall retreat.”

Tang Tianyuan’s furrowed brows smoothed out. He lowered his head and continued to trim her nails.

Tan Lingyin: “…”