284 - Destroyer of Ice and Fire

"Glug glug," came a growling sound from her stomach. She had spent the entire morning in a test of wits and completely forgot that she hadn't eaten a single bite. "You must be hungry. I'll have Cui Guo prepare some food for you. Just stay in your room and relax. I'll have Xiao Liu escort you to Shi Hua Lou by dusk," said Yun Niang, before leaving the room. "Thank you for the trouble." Ran Fan Yin stared at the closed door, listening to the footsteps fade away. Only then did he take off his left shoe, shaking out an object from inside. It was the fish token that Ning Song Wu had entrusted to him. All his valuable jewelry had been taken by Gu Er, but thankfully, he had hidden the fish token in his shoe beforehand. * The 17th year of Jiankang, the fifth day of the lunar August, at noon, outside the Pingyang County Office. "Please notify the county magistrate that Ning Song Wu, the prefect of Chongzhou, urgently seeks an audience," Ning Song Wu, bloodied and with disheveled hair, stood looking extremely bedraggled. The bailiff looked her up and down, taking in her muddy appearance and gaunt frame. With a smirk, he sneered, "You? A prefect of Chongzhou? Get out of here and don't block the way." "Your magistrate Lu Jin and I were appointed around the same time. You only need to report my name." The bailiff scoffed with disdain, "At least put some effort into your lies. Everyone knows the sole magistrate of Pingyang County. You claim to be a prefect; do you have a fish token as proof? Show it to me." "My cousin and I got separated. The fish token is with her. Didn't any women carrying fish tokens arrive today?" Ning Song Wu furrowed her brows, increasingly worried. By now, even considering the distance, they should've arrived by noon at the latest. "No, no one. Stop causing trouble, or you'll face the paddle." The bailiff unsheathed his sword and pressed it against her injured arm, pushing her aside. Seeing the bailiff's disbelief and with the fish token not on her, Ning Song Wu felt a surge of desperation. Ran Fan Yin and Wen Xiang were still missing, and she was exhausted and wounded. How could she possibly search in such a vast county alone? Dragging her heavy steps to the Dengwen Drum, she lifted the mallet with trembling hands, gritting her teeth and taking a deep breath before fiercely striking the drum's center. Beads of sweat rolled down her face, and fresh blood seeped from her left arm. "Boom, boom, boom," the deafening drum sounds echoed. The bailiff rushed over, swearing, "Have you lost your mind? How dare you strike the Dengwen Drum in your state? Since you did, I have no choice but to handle this officially." The drum beats attracted townspeople, who gathered to watch the commotion. Pingyang County hadn't heard the Dengwen Drum for years. The law mandated thirty strokes for those who beat the drum, so it was rarely used unless in dire circumstances. Lu Jin: "Who dares disturb the court? State your name." Clerk: "Impertinent! Why do you not kneel before the magistrate?" Ning Song Wu: "I am Ning Song Wu, Prefect of Chongzhou, fourth-rank official. It is improper for me to kneel before an eighth-rank county magistrate." "This person is full of nonsense. First, he claims to be the prefect of Chongzhou but lacks proof and demanded I inform you, then struck the drum without cause. According to the law, he should be punished with thirty strokes as a deterrent." Lu Jin demanded, "Impersonating a prefect, causing a disturbance, disregarding the law—you have no regard for your life?" "Master Lu, have you really forgotten Ning Song Wu?" She brushed back her disheveled hair, wiped her face with her sleeve, and stared at Lu Jin. "Is it really you, Ning Song Wu?" Lu Jin stepped down from the platform, scrutinizing her closely. It really was her. Last autumn, when the examination results were released, Lu Jin and Ning Song Wu had briefly met. Both their names were at the end of the list, with him ranking ninety-ninth and her at the hundredth. That day, Ning Song Wu smiled widely at the last names on the list, muttering, "Wonderful, a dream fulfilled." Only later did others inform him that she was the only son of the Grand Marshal Ning. Both bottom-ranked, yet due to her noble heritage, she was given a fourth-rank position, whereas he, from a humble background, was assigned an eighth-rank minor post. "Ah, Lord Ning, please have a seat. I was blind not to recognize you. What has happened? How did you end up like this?" Lu Jin hurriedly assisted her to a seat, not daring to slight the Grand Marshal's son. "It's a long story. I was ordered to escort my family back to the capital but was attacked by bandits and separated from my cousin. I beg Lord Lu's assistance." Ning Song Wu quietly explained the situation, ensuring only they could hear. Lu Jin bowed and scraped, "Of course, it's my duty to assist Lord Ning. After your long journey, please rest and change into clean clothes in the inner chambers." "An unfortunate misunderstanding. Everyone, disperse." The bailiff addressed the onlookers. Lu Jin admonished, "What are you standing there for? Quickly fetch the best physician for Lord Ning." Lu Jin then instructed another bailiff, "Prepare some light refreshments." He took a portrait drawn per Ning Song Wu’s description and ordered the subordinates to scour the county to find the person depicted. The physician examined Ning Song Wu's injuries—an external wound on her left arm, shallow knife cuts that would heal with proper medication, and a twisted right-hand tendon. Fortunately, it wasn’t broken and would improve with a few applications of ointment. Ning Song Wu refused the physician's aid, insisting on applying the medicine herself. Inside the room, herbs and bandages lay on the table. She glanced at her strained right hand, sighing heavily. Treating a wound on the opposite side was a tricky task. Due to her unique status, she couldn't let others help. She gritted her teeth, enduring the pain, using her right hand to scoop some ointment and apply it to her left arm wound. She wrapped the bandage with the aid of her teeth and right hand, taking over half an hour to finish. By then, she was drenched in sweat. Catching the foul smell from her body, she looked at the neatly folded clothes on the table with dismay. She regretted turning away the servants Lu Jin had offered, as handling everything alone was proving difficult.