Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress novel Chapter 476

Chapter 476: Chapter 473: Pingan Returns Home_1

The past few days, Magistrate Zhou’s letter of apology had been sent up. He thought this time he could not escape being demoted! But who would have thought that the higher-ups only fined him half a year’s salary...

He guessed it was probably because Bai Qingyan spoke good words for him in front of the Crown Prince, which led to just a demotion; thus, Magistrate Zhou had been in a very good mood recently. Half a year’s salary meant nothing to Magistrate Zhou. It was important that the Princess of Zhen spoke for him and treated him as one of her own.

Seeing from afar a team of guards on horseback slowly approaching with a convoy, the Governor stood up, walked out of the oilcloth tent, tidied his clothes, and waited in place respectfully. Bai Jinzhi, who was riding a tall horse, saw the Governor and Lord Zhou from a distance, raised her eyebrows, bent down, and said to the inside of the carriage, "Eldest Young Lady, the Governor and Lord Zhou are at the city gate to welcome us again. They really never miss a chance!"

Inside the carriage, Bai Qingyan put down the ancient bamboo slip in her hand, glanced at Dong Tingzhen, who was still asleep, slightly opened a slit in the carriage curtain, and said to Bai Jinzhi, "We will make a brief stop to greet them."

"Understood!"

"Call Uncle Ping over!" Bai Qingyan ordered. Soon, Bai Jinzhi called Lu Ping over. Lu Ping rode on horseback and followed the carriage, calling out, "Eldest Young Lady..."

Bai Qingyan moved her gaze away from the still-sleeping Dong Tingzhen. She opened the curtain and said to Lu Ping, "Once we return and settle down, please ask Ji Tingyu if he knows anything about the bandits we heard of along the way who abducted children."

"Yes, Eldest Young Lady, rest assured. I will definitely find out!" Lu Ping nodded.

Bai Qingyan was very clear about the bandit problem in Shuoyang! How could Ji Tingyu come down the mountain to abduct children? On the way back, at first, they heard that the children mysteriously disappeared. As they approached Shuoyang, they heard that the bandits had come down the mountain on horseback and openly robbed children. The parents who chased after their children up the mountain were killed by the mountain bandits.

Thinking it over, Bai Qingyan still thought it proper to let Lu Ping inquire about it.

Seeing the convoy arrive in front of the Shuoyang city gate, Lord Zhou quickly turned around, took a brocade box from a servant, and followed the Governor toward the carriage. Seeing Bai Jinzhi still on horseback without dismounting, he raised his hand and saluted her first with Lord Zhou.

The Governor said, "Congratulations to the Commandery Princess!" "This is a gift prepared by this lower official for the Princess of Zhen and Commandery Princess Gaoyi. Though it is not valuable, it represents this lower official’s heartfelt respect. Please accept it!" Magistrate Zhou stepped forward with a smile and raised the brocade box in his hand.

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Lord Zhou. Please take the gift back!" Bai Qingyan’s voice came from inside the carriage. Seeing Bai Qingyan reveal half her face through the slightly opened curtain, the Governor hurriedly bowed deeply and greeted, "Greetings to the Princess of Zhen."

"While passing through several counties on the way back to Shuoyang, I heard that bandits have been rampant recently, abducting many children. Has such a thing happened in Shuoyang?" Bai Qingyan asked. _{fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com}

Magistrate Zhou stepped forward and hastily replied, "Princess of Zhen, except for the frequent raids by the mountain bandits, no one has come to the Government Office to report any missing children!"

The Governor glanced at Lord Zhou, then slowly said to Bai Qingyan, "Although Shuoyang has yet to experience any cases of missing children, there are reports that the missing children elsewhere have been abducted by mountain bandits. These bandits are indeed becoming more rampant."

Bai Qingyan nodded, her eyes falling on Magistrate Zhou, "Even if there are no reports, as the magistrate, Lord Zhou should be more vigilant and deeply understand the people’s circumstances!"

"Princess, rest assured. I will immediately investigate the people’s grievances! I will not let a single family in Shuoyang lose a child!" Magistrate Zhou promised.

"That is very good!" Bai Qingyan released the curtain and said, "Thank you both for coming to welcome us. We are tired from the journey, so we will go back to Bai Mansion first. Please feel free to do as you wish!"