After leaving the main hall, Lin Ji returned to his study in the side hall.
He brewed a pot of tea, sat on the chair, stretched lazily, and relaxed.
No one disturbed him in the morning, even the usual bustling sounds in the corridor outside were much quieter today.
By noon, a maid named Qiu Xiang from the mansion brought the meal. Lin Ji remembered her name because it was quite unique, catching his attention before.
Sure enough, it was four dishes and a soup.
Qiu Xiang was about to leave after bringing the dishes, but Lin Ji called her to eat together.
Seeing Qiu Xiang's somewhat nervous appearance, Lin Ji smiled and said, "I've said it before, there aren't so many rules in the mansion. You serve me, I pay you a monthly salary, it's that simple."
"Master, this... this is not proper," Qiu Xiang timidly said, her face blushing.
"I said, there aren't so many rules!" Lin Ji sighed helplessly.
This is how the world is, with strict hierarchies.
Lin Ji couldn't change the world, nor did he think he had the ability to do so.
Although he enjoyed the service of the maids in the mansion, he was not used to the constant display of respect and hierarchy.
Back in Qingyang County, living alone, interacting with familiar friends, neighbors, and colleagues, he didn't feel this way.
But after coming to the capital city of Liangcheng...
It was different outside, where he could go with the flow.
But at home, he had to be on guard everywhere, which he wasn't used to and didn't like.
If he couldn't control others, could he not even control the maids in his own mansion?
After the meal, watching Qiu Xiang carefully clean up the dishes, not daring to make a sound, Lin Ji was too lazy to say anything more.
This was going to be a long battle, a few words couldn't change the habits of these maids.
He watched Qiu Xiang leave.
Not long after, Zhou Ying reported from outside.
"Master Lin."
"Come in."
Zhou Ying entered the study, looking radiant, his eyes shining as he looked at Lin Ji.
"Master, you're really impressive today!"
"If you're going to flatter me, then leave. Do I not know whether I'm impressive or not?" Lin Ji said, waving his hand impatiently.
Zhou Ying quickly smiled apologetically, but in his heart, he thought his judgment was spot on, he had indeed flattered the right person.
Thinking to himself, Zhou Ying quickly took out a note from his pocket.
"What's this?"
"It's from the Tian family."
Lin Ji paused, took the note and glanced at it, a slight smile appearing on his face.
"This arrangement is quite good."
In just a morning, all the officials serving in the city from the Tian family had resigned.
Many of the shops in the city were sold at discounted prices.
The head of the family, Tian Zechuan, was demoted to a servant and sent elsewhere.
Tian Jiufeng also resigned from his position as deputy constable and left Liangcheng.
In just one afternoon, the entrenched power of the Tian family in the city had been reduced by at least eighty percent.
In addition, the Tian family also sent many things to Lin Ji's mansion, including gold, silver, jewelry, and cultivation resources.
In short, the Tian family had chosen to cut off their own arm.
As for Zheng Yunxuan, who had starved his parents to death...
The Tian family would naturally seek revenge, Zheng Yunxuan would face retribution, and Lin Ji didn't need to worry about it.
"There are still smart people. As long as people are around, everything can be planned slowly; if people are gone, then everything is lost."
Lin Ji closed the note.
"Master, does this mean the Tian family has fallen?" Zhou Ying curiously asked.
This question was also meaningful.
One was genuinely curious, the other was subtly flattering.
The mighty Tian family had been brought down by Lin Ji, which was quite an achievement.
By asking this question, Zhou Ying was touching on Lin Ji's pride.
Sure enough, a smile appeared on Lin Ji's face, but he shook his head.
"It's not a fall. The people are still there, the Tian family is still the Tian family, with money and people, they are a force wherever they go."
After a pause, Lin Ji sighed.
"But this kind of self-sacrifice will serve as a warning to other families in the city."
"I don't think anyone will dare to provoke me in the future," Lin Ji said, raising his eyebrows with a smile.
"Master is wise," Zhou Ying quickly said.
"I said if you're going to flatter me, then leave!" Lin Ji impatiently waved his hand.
Zhou Ying quickly bowed and turned to leave.
But just as he took a few steps, Lin Ji's voice came from behind.
"Wait!"
Zhou Ying subconsciously reached out his hand and caught a crumpled silver note.
One hundred taels!
This was part of the inheritance Lin Ji had received from the former chief constable, which he had casually taken out and kept on him.
It was perfect for rewarding someone.
"This is for you, take your brothers out for a good meal."
"Thank you for your generosity, Master!" Zhou Ying happily left, one hundred taels was not a small amount, enough for him to live on for several months.
After sending Zhou Ying away, Lin Ji was bored in the yamen, originally planning to return to his mansion to either sleep or cultivate.
But suddenly, he sensed movement outside his study.
Before he could speak, the door to the study was pushed open.
It was the unlucky plant spirit.
"Oh? How did you come here?" Lin Ji was surprised to see the spirit.
"I waited in the main hall for half a day, but everyone had left," the spirit said somewhat awkwardly, "I didn't know where to go, so I had to come find you."
Lin Ji couldn't help but laugh.
The plant spirit was quite valuable, used for alchemy to greatly improve cultivation; if it knew sustainable development, it could be sent to cultivate the spiritual herbs in the spiritual field.
Such a rare creature had been forgotten and had come to him on its own.
Lin Ji stood up, grabbed the two tender shoots on top of the spirit's head.
"Since you have nowhere to go, you will take care of the garden in my mansion from now on."
"Alright, alright, can you stop pulling my hair?" The spirit struggled, its two short legs kicking in the air.
"You call this hair?" Lin Ji raised his hand subconsciously.
As a result, with a light tug, he pulled out the two tender shoots.
"This..." Lin Ji looked at the tender shoots in his hand, feeling a bit at a loss.
The spirit squatted on the ground, holding its head, looking even more aggrieved.
"Will it grow back?" Lin Ji asked somewhat embarrassed.
"It will," the spirit nodded.
Releasing his hand, the tender shoots on its head sprouted again, exactly the same as the ones in Lin Ji's hand.
Lin Ji didn't know how many times he had been stunned.
After some thought, Lin Ji decided not to ask.
He threw away the tender shoots in his hand and grabbed the newly grown ones on the spirit's head.
Letting the little creature kick and struggle, Lin Ji paid no attention and just carried it out of the yamen.
Back at the mansion.
Lin Ji finally let go.
"I won't restrict you anymore. You should know your situation," Lin Ji said.
The spirit nodded frantically.
It was afraid of being caught and killed, which was why it had come back to Lin Ji.
At least Lin Ji didn't seem like someone who would kill it.
"Stay in the garden, don't scare people or cause trouble, just plant flowers honestly for me."
After giving instructions, Lin Ji returned to his room.
Lying on the bed, legs crossed, humming a tune that only he could understand.
"The demons are gone, I've established my authority in the city again, and there will be fewer troubles in the future."
"More importantly, the Demon Suppression Staff is no longer in my hands, so this matter has nothing to do with me!"
Thinking of this, Lin Ji felt a sense of relief.
The good days of idling and enjoying life, just like in Qingyang County, were finally coming.
(End of this chapter)