Chapter Forty-One: The Warning

In the end, it was Patrol Officer Bai who broke the awkward silence, ending the conversation with a subtle rubbing of his fingers as a hint.

Registrar Shi took out a few pieces of silver, totaling about five or six taels, and handed them to Bai Yu.

After taking the silver, Bai Yu said, "The county examination is this month, and the prefectural examination is next month. Once I’ve finished the exams, I’ll find a way to pay you back."

Registrar Shi asked, "There are only a few days left before the county examination. How is your preparation coming along?"

Bai Yu replied, "It shouldn't be a problem, unless the magistrate is blind as a bat."

If he failed the county examination, he would just forge some White Lotus Society paraphernalia and plant them in the magistrate's home!

Registrar Shi cautioned him, "Even if you have talent, you must not underestimate the county examination. Thousands of people compete in the capital’s county examination, yet only a few dozen pass in the end."

The two chatted for a while longer before Bai Yu took the initiative to take his leave.

As they parted, Registrar Shi reminded him, "You’ve been making quite a stir lately; be careful of those who might target you."

Bai Yu gave a dry laugh and mocked himself, "I’m just a lowly life, what point is there in targeting me?"

For instance, Battalion Commander Yan Hu—he was an illegitimate son of the Yan family and a pawn planted by them within the Embroidered Uniform Guard; that was where his value lay.

But he, a mere patrol officer, what political value did he have? What benefit could be gained from targeting him?

Only Battalion Commander Yan had a motive to retaliate, but he was currently under house arrest.

Walking out of the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters, Bai Yu felt the silver in his pocket and thought of the ninety catties of rice at home; a sense of satisfaction surged within him.

Since he had transmigrated, he had never fought such a "wealthy" battle.

Today, he would go buy two catties of tofu! No, two catties of meat!

When Bai Yu walked into the crowded courtyard carrying two catties of meat with a swaggering gait, he attracted the gaze of almost everyone in the compound.

This made Bai Yu dizzily wonder if he had entered the wrong scenario; if a child had chimed in with "I want to eat meat," it would have been even more surreal.

He called over Xia Da and Jiang Erhei, tossing a piece of silver to each of them. The piece for Xia Da was slightly larger, while the one for Jiang Erhei was a bit smaller.

"I’m paying you back, so give me back the IOUs," Bai Yu said.

Xia Da didn't think much of it, but Jiang Erhei felt a pang of regret. Had he been too rash to pull out today?

If Bai Yu really was a powerful backer he could rely on, and he had let go halfway through, wouldn't he become the laughingstock of the neighborhood?

***

That evening, for the first time in the month since his arrival, Bai Yu ate meat, even though it was bought with borrowed money.

Boiled pork slices with a garlic dipping sauce! The staple was rice, fragrant white rice without a single grain of coarse cereal!

While this dinner wouldn't even rank in the capital, it was the absolute best in the entire courtyard!

Thinking of this, Bai Yu suddenly felt that there was a bright side to living in a shared compound: with only a small investment, one could harvest a great deal of emotional value.

His father continued to scold him for being a spendthrift while eating half a catty of meat.

After dinner, Bai Yu continued his calligraphy practice. Before going to bed, he habitually opened the AI assistant’s light screen to use his remaining daily quota, researching historical records to continue his studies.

Having already learned the major events of this year—the thirty-ninth year of Jiajing—he began to study the events of the fortieth year.

The screen listed over a dozen items. Looking closer, the first one read: "The Imperial Court implements the 'Converting Paddy to Mulberry' policy in Jiangnan."

Even as a layman in history, a question mark slowly formed in Bai Yu's mind.

Damn it! In an ancient era that viewed agricultural production as the foundation of the state and absolute political correctness, what kind of court would implement such a disastrous, idiotic policy as "converting paddy to mulberry" in Jiangnan, the lifeline of the grain transport?

This AI was clearly a low-end version, or perhaps it was intentionally trying to be humorous. It had likely mistaken the content of some novel or television drama for historical fact.

The next day, before heading to the Wanping County Office to mooch off their stationery... ah, no, to provide guidance on their work, Bai Yu stopped by the guardroom on the West Street of the Imperial Wall.

Just as he lifted the door curtain, he saw Battalion Commander Qian sitting inside, keeping company with Lu Baiyi, who seemed to wear nothing but his signature white *yesa* robe.

Bai Yu immediately stopped in his tracks, standing at the door to greet Battalion Commander Qian.

Qian said, "Young Master Lu came looking for you specifically."

Bai Yu stepped back warily, resisting, "Haven't we already settled our debts?"

Lu Baiyi snapped, "Don't be ungrateful. The Eastern Depot told me that someone has put out a bounty on you there—they intend to teach you a lesson!"

Bai Yu paused for a moment, unable to help but sneer, "How damn professional."

The Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard were often mentioned in the same breath. If the Guard was the Emperor’s tool for monitoring the court and the capital, then the Eastern Depot was the tool used to monitor the Guard.

The Eastern Depot had spies planted among the Embroidered Uniform Guard members; they were, in a sense, spies among spies.

Because Bai Yu held the position of a patrol officer in the Emperor’s personal guard, other offices might not easily touch him, but the Eastern Depot certainly had the authority to do so.

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard rarely answered to the Eastern Depot these days due to the influence of Lu Bing, he was hardly a high-profile figure.

"What are you thinking?" Lu Baiyi asked.

Bai Yu suddenly asked suspiciously, "The person who took the bounty wouldn't happen to be you, would it?"

Lu Baiyi was so angry he nearly drew his sword again, cursing, "You ungrateful bastard!"

With the possibility of Lu Baiyi staging a ruse ruled out, Bai Yu asked, "It’s likely Yan Hu who put out the bounty. Who in the Eastern Depot took it? And how do they plan to deal with me?"

Lu Baiyi spread his hands and said, "I really don't know. People who take bounties don't go around shouting about it before the job is done. Unless you promise to owe me a big favor, why should I waste my time and effort to find out for you? Coming to warn you today is already more than enough!"

Bai Yu really wanted to spit out, *Do you have some kind of neurotic obsession?*

To keep harping on about "owing a favor"—was this some kind of sickness? Or did he want something else from him?

If he wanted to play hardball, so be it. Who was afraid of whom? Bai Yu coldly scoffed, "I don't gamble, I don't frequent brothels, I’m neither greedy nor cruel. I report for duty on time and go home on time; I have no weaknesses or leverage for anyone to exploit. What can they possibly do to me? Are they going to find a few men to jump me on the street? If so, I’ll just lie on the ground and refuse to get up! As long as I don't die, I’ll go beat the petition drum at the palace gate and see who ends up in trouble!"

Lu Baiyi sneered, "I don't know what will happen, but I’ll be watching to see how you handle it! It's no use going to the Commander for matters involving the Eastern Depot. Don't come crying to me for help!"

After seeing Lu Baiyi off, Battalion Commander Qian sighed, "Officer Bai, why go to such lengths? If you just lowered your head and showed a little humility, you wouldn't have to sacrifice anything real, and Young Master Lu would certainly be willing to help you."

Bai Yu replied, "The free stuff is always the most expensive. All the gifts of fate have already been marked with a price behind the scenes."

Qian added, "Then should I assign a few men to follow you? To provide as much protection as possible?"

Bai Yu nodded, "I don't know if these men will be of any use against the methods of the Eastern Depot, but having a few extra hands to assist won't hurt."