In the courtroom of Yu Hang County.
The County Magistrate sat on the dais, but his face was filled with a servile smile.
“Come on, hurry up and bring a chair for Qing Da Ye!”
He shouted.
Two court officers quickly carried a chair over, respectfully inviting Ao Qing to sit down.
Ao Qing waved his hand at the County Magistrate.
“Go about your business.”
The County Magistrate readily agreed and, with a group of court officers, left, leaving only the three people in the courtroom.
Xu Jiao Rong helped her husband up. Her expression was complex, a mix of fear at the power Ao Qing displayed, worry for Li Gong Fu, and a tinge of resentment.
She had been looking for a private school for Xu Xian when she was suddenly summoned by several court officers.
What the officers said was simple.
Her husband, Li Gong Fu, had offended someone powerful he couldn't afford to anger.
As not all officers knew the specifics, the court officers spoke vaguely, only saying that Li Gong Fu had rolled his eyes and seemed to have passed out.
Xu Jiao Rong was terrified and rushed to the courtroom, tears streaming down her face.
Then she learned.
Li Gong Fu, without knowing the situation, had disturbed the good times of a certain Lord and his concubine.
Xu Jiao Rong looked at Ao Qing, who looked relaxed, then at her husband, who seemed dazed, and her anger flared.
She twisted Li Gong Fu's ear, scolding him angrily,
“I told you to be careful, how can you still be so foolish?”
“If Qing Da Ren hadn't been merciful, you would have been imprisoned and executed in the autumn.”
Li Gong Fu's gaze was blank, but his wife was twisting his ear, so he instinctively started to admit his fault.
Ao Qing held the hot tea served by the court officers, blowing gently on the floating tea leaves, smiling as he watched the couple act.
Xu Jiao Rong and Li Gong Fu acted for a long time, but Ao Qing remained silent.
The couple exchanged a look, Xu Jiao Rong sighed and said apologetically,
“Sir, what do you say?”
Ao Qing took a sip of tea, leisurely saying,
“Xu Niang Zi, don't just scold, hit him!”
Xu Jiao Rong looked troubled, raising her hand and then lowering it again. She looked at Li Gong Fu, then at Ao Qing.
Li Gong Fu, however, was decisive, grabbing Xu Jiao Rong's hand and slapping himself.
There was a loud slap.
His face reddened visibly.
Li Gong Fu ignored the pain in his face, quickly grabbing Xu Jiao Rong's hand and blowing on it.
He knew how hard he had hit himself, he was afraid he had hurt Xu Jiao Rong.
Xu Jiao Rong was startled, her eyes filled with sadness. She looked at the handprint on Li Gong Fu's face with pity.
Ao Qing put down his teacup. The base of the cup landed on the chair with a soft "dong", immediately attracting the attention of both.
Seeing that Ao Qing remained expressionless, Li Gong Fu's heart trembled, and he was about to slap himself again.
But after raising his hand, he couldn't bring it down.
Ao Qing waved his left hand, and Li Gong Fu's hand was forcibly pressed down.
Seeing this.
Xu Jiao Rong and Li Gong Fu exchanged a look, both seeing the shock in the other's eyes.
Li Gong Fu was a decent person, now that he had slapped himself, he had offset the offense from earlier.
Ao Qing leaned back in his chair, a light like ripples flowing over his entire body.
Before Li Gong Fu's bewildered gaze.
The bamboo patterns embroidered on Ao Qing's blue robe transformed into a golden dragon in the light.
And where the light passed, from bottom to top.
Li Gong Fu saw the blue scales at Ao Qing's temples, each one like a beautiful blue jade, emitting a faint glow.
And his black pupils, as if ignited, shone with a brilliant golden light.
What truly scared Li Gong Fu and Xu Jiao Rong, making them unable to stand, was.
A pair of golden 'antlers' slowly appeared on top of Ao Qing's head.
“Dragon, Dragon!”
Xu Jiao Rong exclaimed in surprise, her eyes rolling back, and she fainted.
Li Gong Fu hurriedly supported Xu Jiao Rong, and with a thud, he knelt down.
“Dragon, Dragon King, I didn't mean to offend you!”
Ao Qing waved his hand.
Xu Jiao Rong woke up with a gasp, hugging Li Gong Fu, both trembling.
Ao Qing tapped his fingertips against the armrest of his chair.
“The matter of offense is past, I'm here to talk about something else.”
Li Gong Fu and Xu Jiao Rong nodded repeatedly.
Ao Qing began to spin a tale.
He claimed that Xu Jiao Rong's younger brother had done him a favor in his previous life and that he was now returning the favor.
Xu Jiao Rong and Li Gong Fu listened, stunned.
Xu Jiao Rong, with a hint of boldness, politely said,
“Dragon King, we dare not ask for your repayment, your forgiveness for my husband's offense has already filled us with gratitude.”
Ao Qing glanced at her, sighing,
“The reason I repay this favor, besides the kindness from the past, is for another reason.”
“My sworn enemy, the current Abbot of Jin Shan Temple, Fa Hai, has been waiting for me to make a mistake.”
“If I do nothing, he will have a sufficient reason to attack me.”
Xu Jiao Rong was about to say something, but Li Gong Fu quickly pulled his wife's hand.
Li Gong Fu had been in the official circles for many years and knew a thing or two about supernatural beings.
He understood that for someone like Ao Qing, the favor from his previous life was a tie that bound them together.
To prevent Ao Qing from returning the favor was to cut off Ao Qing's path.
Li Gong Fu didn't dare to cut off the path of a Dragon King.
After explaining the stakes to Xu Jiao Rong, Li Gong Fu looked up at Ao Qing, solemnly saying,
“Dragon King, we have no special requests, we only hope that Han Wen can grow up healthy, study hard, and have a happy life.”
Xu Jiao Rong hastily added,
“Sir, our family is small, could you find a few more wives for my Han Wen?”
Li Gong Fu hurriedly pulled her, but Xu Jiao Rong glared at him.
Her meaning was.
Since this Dragon King was willing to help, it was best to take advantage of the opportunity.
If this was the only chance, it would be a pity not to use it fully.
Li Gong Fu clicked his tongue, thinking that his wife was really bold.
Ao Qing closed his eyes, listening to their words back and forth. He then opened his majestic golden eyes and calmly said,
“Tomorrow at noon, take Xu Han Wen to the Dragon King Temple by West Lake.”
“Remember your requests, see you tomorrow.”
With that.
Ao Qing's figure disappeared with a "bang", leaving behind a stunned and excited Li Gong Fu and Xu Jiao Rong.