Chapter 107: The Blind Date at the Prefecture Magistrate's Estate

Seeing the mighty Inspector being beaten black and blue by his wife, the servants and garrison soldiers were all struck with horror. Yet, being of low status, they dared not intervene and could only beg Zhang Xutuo to step in and mediate.

Zhang Xutuo shook his head and said, "The root of the problem lies with that young girl. Inspector Ye made it clear just now: he wants her out of this courtyard."

"Exactly, exactly! Drive the culprit away first!" the garrison leader chimed in hurriedly.

"You, pack your things and get out at once!" the leader barked coldly. "Do not let us see you again! Leave Qi Commandery and disappear forever!"

Li Dong put on a convincing act, sobbing and appearing deeply reluctant. He turned back into the house, tucked the military manuals he had hidden behind the door under his arm, and shuffled out of the small courtyard where he had been detained for days.

As he passed the carriage at the gate, he heard the dull thuds of fists landing on flesh. Li Dong pretended to shudder with fear, a look of timidity in his eyes, and hurried past the carriage.

While Li Dong feigned ignorance of the world, he was laughing wildly inside. "Ye Jishan, oh Ye Jishan, so you have a day like this too!"

He thought coldly, "You brought this on yourself; don't blame me for being ruthless!"

After presiding over Cheng Yaojin’s wedding, Li Dong had spent a day at home before returning to Qi Commandery. When he left Zhangqiu, he met Du Yu, who had revealed that although Ye Jishan was honey-tongued and duplicitous, he had one fatal weakness: he was henpecked.

Because of the incident with Yan Ruyu at the Yan-Chun Pavilion, Lai Hu'er had used Ye Jishan to suppress Li Dong. Recalling Du Yu's advice, Li Dong decided to use Lady Cui to strike back at Ye. Though he couldn't face Lai Hu'er directly, thrashing this lackey who relied on his master's power was a soft, indirect blow against Lai Hu'er.

This affair would not have been possible without the mediation of Zhang Xutuo. When Li Dong had escaped, the favor he asked of Zhang was to secretly notify Ye Jishan’s wife. After all, the Inspector’s manor was heavily guarded; how could an ordinary person get a message inside?

When Li Dong was tormenting Ye Jishan, he never expected that he would inadvertently save a historical figure and change the course of history. When he finally understood the full cause and effect of the situation, he broke out in a cold sweat.

Not long after Li Dong left the courtyard, Zhang Xutuo caught up with him.

Seeing no one around, Li Dong quickly returned to his original appearance, changed into his own clothes, mounted a horse, and rode with Zhang Xutuo toward the Assistant Commander’s residence.

Upon arriving at Zhang Xutuo’s estate, the person serving tea was not a common servant, but Zhang’s daughter—the very one Li Dong had bumped into in the back garden.

"Qianyu, go ask your mother to come and sit with us," Zhang Xutuo commanded his daughter meaningfully.

"Yes, Father," Zhang Qianyu replied. Her gaze drifted from Li Dong, and she lowered her head, stepping backward out of the parlor before turning to leave.

Li Dong’s heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy lance; he swayed, nearly fainting.

Zhang Xutuo’s daughter was named Zhang Qianyu!

His girlfriend before he traveled back in time was named Dang Yuqian!

The names "Qianyu" and "Yuqian" were merely reversed, and her voice was uncannily similar to his former girlfriend's. Although this woman was not her, Li Dong still felt his heart race and his blood surge at the sound of the name. Could Zhang Qianyu actually be the Dang Yuqian he had been searching for so desperately?

Could such a ridiculous coincidence truly exist in this world?

While he was lost in thought, footsteps sounded outside. A group of servants arrived, surrounding a dignified, simply dressed middle-aged woman, with Zhang Qianyu accompanying her. Needless to say, this was Lady Zhang.

Li Dong hurriedly rose from his seat and bowed respectfully. "I am Li Dong, greetings, Lady Zhang."

"Oh, so you are Li Dong. I have heard your name for a long time, and now I finally see you. My, my... you are quite extraordinary," Lady Zhang said, glancing at her daughter.

Zhang Qianyu blushed, fidgeting with her neck, and helped her mother to a seat. After a few pleasantries, the servants withdrew, leaving only the family of three and Li Dong in the room.

Zhang Xutuo offered a brief introduction, then fell silent, sipping his tea.

Lady Zhang looked at Li Dong with affection and asked with a smile, "Young man, does your family live in Zhangqiu?"

"Yes, My Lady," Li Dong replied.

"Are your parents doing well?" she asked again.

"Thanks to your kindness, they are still in good health," Li Dong replied.

Lady Zhang chatted about trivial domestic matters, gradually shifting the conversation toward birth dates and horoscopes. Meanwhile, Zhang Qianyu stood to the side, maintaining a shy, maidenly demeanor, a far cry from the spirited girl he had met in the garden.

Li Dong realized that the mother and daughter were likely here to arrange a match, leaving him with mixed feelings.

Both officials of the commandery, Ye Jishan and Zhang Xutuo, treated him like fire and ice. One was constantly trying to ruin him, while the other never missed a chance to help.

Their wives were equally diametrically opposed: one was a shrew, the other gentle and serene; one was a lioness of Hedong, the other a soft spring breeze.

Although the Zhang family treated him well, he could not easily agree to a marriage. First, there was Dang Yuqian, and then there was Lu Rou—two gentle and lovely women who had been nothing but kind to him.

His own path was only just beginning; how could he make promises he couldn't keep? To agree lightly and fail to take responsibility would be to waste Zhang Qianyu’s youth.

Yet, he could not refuse too bluntly and hurt Zhang Xutuo’s goodwill; he would have to play a game of deflection and delay.

It wasn't that Zhang Qianyu wasn't exceptional, but her name was a constant reminder not to lose his heart.

Just then, the voice of a garrison soldier rang out from outside: "Reporting to the Assistant Commander, I have urgent news!"

"What is it?" Zhang Xutuo asked with a hint of annoyance, likely irritated that his matchmaking plans were being interrupted.

"Two criminals were captured in Zhangnan County. One of them killed the County Magistrate, and the other is his accomplice," the soldier replied, bowing.

"Report this to Inspector Ye! He is the head of the commandery!" Zhang Xutuo said firmly.

"I have already reported it to him, but... he is currently in a state of chaos. His household seems far from peaceful, so he ordered me to report to you instead," the soldier said, glancing at Zhang Xutuo, wanting to laugh but not daring to.

"Oh..." Zhang Xutuo responded. It seemed the trouble Li Dong had caused Ye Jishan was still ongoing; the couple was likely still locked in battle.

"What are the criminals' names?" Zhang Xutuo asked, rising. Though he was reluctant, official business took precedence over family matters.

"The murderer is Sun Anzu, and the accomplice is Dou Jiande!" the soldier replied.

Li Dong’s eyebrows shot up. He thought to himself, *This is bad. The worst has happened—Dou Jiande has offended the garrison of Qi Commandery after all!*