The appearance of a group of yamen runners caught the Tian family off guard.
But soon after, when Tian Zechuan reacted, he became furious.
"Who let you in?!"
Tian Jiufeng and Tian Zeming beside him remained silent, just watching the scene quietly.
Zhou Ying's face showed a bitter smile.
"Master Tian, it's Lord Lin's order. I'm just following orders, please don't make it difficult for me."
"Lin Ji? A mere sixth-ranked official dares to send people to arrest me?"
"Father!" Tian Jiufeng frowned and stopped Tian Zechuan, then turned to Zhou Ying.
Zhou Ying clasped his hands towards Tian Jiufeng and said, "Master Tian, please don't make it difficult for us."
Tian Jiufeng waved his hand and said straightforwardly, "Did Lord Lin send you? Why did you come to arrest my father?"
"Instructing monsters to harm people in the city."
Tian Jiufeng frowned and argued, "It has been said that the monster escaped on its own. How can this..."
"Master Tian, it's not useful to tell me this, you should talk to Lord Lin."
"Arrest and interrogation should be ordered by the Inspectorate." Tian Zeming frowned beside him.
The Inspectorate of Liang City had a close relationship with the Tian family, giving them the confidence to act recklessly.
Before Zhou Ying could respond, Tian Jiufeng sighed lightly, "This matter involves monsters, it's not an ordinary case, it should be investigated by the Celestial Court."
"What about Lord Zhang?" Tian Zeming was not giving up.
"Lord Zhang is not here. The Celestial Court of Liang City now follows Lord Lin's orders!"
Even if not present, with outsiders around, Tian Jiufeng dared not directly call out Lin Ji's name.
Today, he witnessed the stubbornness of Lin Ji, which further indicated that Lord Lin was not someone to be trifled with.
As a former Chief Constable in the Celestial Court, Tian Jiufeng understood better than his elders what the position of the Chief Constable meant.
Tian Jiufeng looked at Zhou Ying again.
"The Tian family is also a prominent family in the city. It's not good for the Tian family to be seen taking people away. Can we compromise? Tomorrow morning, I will take my father to the government office to meet Lord Lin."
Zhou Ying did not speak, but took out Lin Ji's golden token.
Seeing this shiny token, Tian Jiufeng had nothing more to say.
"Father, you should go with these officials."
"What if I don't?" Tian Zechuan frowned deeply.
Tian Jiufeng shook his head, "If Lord Lin comes in person, this matter might become even more difficult."
Seeing his son's troubled expression, Tian Zechuan grew even angrier.
When the former Chief Constable was still around, the relationships between the city's families and the government were intricate, and such incidents would not have occurred.
"Hmph, let's go then. I want to see what a sixth-ranked official can do to me!"
Tian Zechuan stood up and looked at Zhou Ying.
"What, not showing the way yet? Do you want to put handcuffs on me?"
Zhou Ying quickly shook his head, instructed two yamen runners to watch Tian Zechuan, and then walked towards the Tian residence.
After Tian Zechuan was taken away, Tian Jiufeng turned to Tian Zeming and said, "Second Uncle, we need to plan ahead for this matter. The fact that Lin Ji dares to act like this means he won't let it go easily."
"How should I prepare?" Tian Zeming frowned slightly.
"Who let the monster escape?" Tian Jiufeng asked.
"After we discussed it, and decided to save face for Lin Ji, I instructed the steward at home to handle it."
Tian Jiufeng looked at his second uncle in silence.
Tian Zeming suddenly realized.
"I will take action myself later."
"Anyone involved in this matter should not be let go." Tian Jiufeng gave another instruction.
"Understood, I know what to do." Tian Zeming nodded and hurriedly left.
In the government office.
"Lord Lin, the person has been brought back." Zhou Ying knocked on Lin Ji's study door.
At this moment, Lin Ji was covering his face with a book, half asleep.
Upon hearing the words outside, he couldn't be bothered to get up, yawning as he said, "Bring him back and throw him in jail. What, does he expect to be treated well with good food and drink?"
"As you command." Zhou Ying replied.
But at that moment, Tian Zechuan suddenly spoke, "Lord Lin, there seems to be a misunderstanding in this matter. Could you come out for a meeting?"
Lin Ji recognized the voice of the Tian family head.
"We will meet naturally in the hall tomorrow. Master Tian, there's no need to rush." Lin Ji then ordered, "Zhou Ying, find the worst cell for him, preferably one that hasn't been cleaned of excrement properly. If anyone dares to give him any special treatment, I will personally settle the score!"
Zhou Ying quickly acknowledged and led Tian Zechuan downstairs with his yamen runners.
After a while, Zhou Ying returned to report.
"Sir, the person has been locked up."
"Go to the Zheng family and tell Zheng Yunxuan to wait at the government office tomorrow."
"Yes."
After giving these instructions, Lin Ji stretched lazily, got up from his chair, opened the study window, with the moon already rising above the treetops.
Yawning again, Lin Ji left the government office and leisurely returned to his mansion.
"The real show will be tomorrow."
With a sense of anticipation, Lin Ji went to sleep peacefully.
The next day.
As the east began to brighten, Lin Ji was already up.
Seeing that it was still early, he didn't rush out but instead practiced Tai Chi in the garden.
Lin Ji had thought that perhaps bringing his interest in Tai Chi from his previous life to this world could lead to some extraordinary martial arts.
But reality proved him wrong.
He didn't know the true essence of Tai Chi, but the Tai Chi practiced by the old folks in the square in his previous life was more like Tai Chi gymnastics.
It was soft and ineffective against real strength, useless in combat even against an old man.
After practicing his forms, Lin Ji went into the dining hall.
The maids had already prepared breakfast.
Seafood porridge again.
The abalone in the porridge was as big as half a palm.
"Ah, too extravagant." Lin Ji sighed and finished the abalone and sea cucumber in the porridge.
After the meal, he placed the bowl down.
He returned to his room, where a maid was waiting.
Lin Ji simply opened his arms, and the maid helped him change clothes with delicate hands.
While enjoying the service, Lin Ji felt a twinge of guilt.
"I've fallen, I shouldn't be like this." Lin Ji was somewhat remorseful.
It had only been a few days, and he was already on the verge of corruption.
"Sir, it's done." The maid said cheerfully.
"Alright, you may leave. Remember to prepare lunch and send it to the government office at noon. I won't be back for lunch."
"What would you like for lunch, sir?" The maid seemed to understand Lin Ji's preferences, speaking more relaxedly.
"Just the usual four dishes and a soup." Lin Ji said casually.
After dismissing the maid, Lin Ji hung his long sword at his waist.
He found two tender shoots in the garden and plucked them from the ground.
"Sir, what are you going to do with these?"
"Come with me." Lin Ji casually covered the monster with his spiritual energy.
Those with cultivation could not hide, but ordinary people couldn't see it.
At the gate, a sedan was already prepared.
"Where did the sedan come from?" Lin Ji asked the steward, Lao Li, behind him.
"Sir, as an official, you should ride in a sedan." Lao Li explained with his head bowed. "It was our negligence as servants a few days ago, but..."
"Enough, get rid of the sedan."
The sedan was too slow and swaying, and Lin Ji had no interest in it.
(End of this chapter)