When Yang Zhenshan arrived at the Front Office, Han Fei was already waiting outside the study room.
"Master, there is someone from Marquis Jingyuan Mansion requesting to see you!"
Before even entering the study, Han Fei reported first.
"Marquis Jingyuan Mansion!"
Yang Zhenshan stopped in his tracks, his expression somewhat inexplicable, "They’ve sought me out so quickly!"
He was naturally familiar with Marquis Jingyuan Mansion.
Not long ago, he had sent the young master of Marquis Jingyuan Mansion to work on road construction outside the city.
It was said that a few days ago, the young master had hit someone, but it was only a prisoner, and the constables overseeing them did not punish him.
After contemplating for a moment, Yang Zhenshan instructed Han Fei to invite the visitor.
After all, being a noble Marquis, one must offer the appropriate respects.
Moments later, Han Fei brought a middle-aged man, around forty years old, into the study.
"I, Su Bai, pay my respects to Master Yang!"
Yang Zhenshan sized up Su Bai; the man was dressed in a cotton robe, which, although not luxurious or exquisite, was not shabby either.
"Who are you in the Marquis Mansion?"
"I am merely a steward in the Marquis Mansion!" Su Bai said.
A cold smirk flashed in Yang Zhenshan’s eyes.
True to the Marquis Mansion, even a servant is dressed in such fine cotton.
It wasn’t that he looked down on servants, but that the world was as such; differences in status were reflected in every aspect, with different statuses having different demands in clothing, food, housing, and transport.
A servant is a servant, only fit to wear coarse linen, while ordinary people might use cotton, and materials like silk and fine fabric were only for the officials.
Of course, these requirements were not too strict; some merchants would also use silk fabrics, as merchants were wealthy and could afford such luxury.
And some scholars and ordinary people would wear linen due to poverty.
As long as it was not pursued by anyone, minor transgressions of status were no serious matter.
"So, for what reason have you come to see this official?"
"I am here to request that Master releases my family’s young master!" Su Bai said calmly.
His demeanor was neither servile nor overbearing, with no suggestion of having come begging nor a trace of arrogance, as if he were discussing a simple matter.
But the problem arises, he is a servant, and Yang Zhenshan is a government-appointed official.
What basis does he have to stand neither servile nor overbearing?
He merely relied on the backing of Marquis Jingyuan Mansion.
Yang Zhenshan watched him with interest, "What if I say no?"
"Do you wish to become enemies with my Marquis Jingyuan Mansion?" Su Bai still spoke evenly.
"Enemies?" Yang Zhenshan, sitting behind his desk, leaned back into his chair, his fingers lightly tapping on the desk, "Are we not already enemies?"
He had sent the young master of Marquis Jingyuan Mansion to the construction site, which definitely counted as becoming enemies.
After all, the pride of Marquis Jingyuan Mansion was at stake.
"A minor grievance, still resolvable, as long as Master Yang is willing to apologize to my young master, I can negotiate to settle this minor grievance!" Su Bai stated.
Yang Zhenshan raised his eyebrows, "It seems you hold a not insignificant position in Marquis Jingyuan Mansion!"
"My status is humble; I’ve just followed the Marquis for many years!" Su Bai replied.
Yang Zhenshan nodded knowingly; this was a confidant of Marquis Jingyuan, and likely not just any confidant but possibly the Marquis’s right-hand man.
Because this person’s cultivation was not low - at the very least, a Martial Artist of the Postnatal Fifth Layer.
For him, a Deputy Magistrate of Secondary Third Rank, to apologize to a master without any official position, and let a servant decide how to resolve a grievance.
Why does this matter irritate him so?
The Marquis Mansion is prestigious, but unless a young master is the eldest son or grandson, he remains just a commoner.
Without qualifications to inherit the title, once the Old Marquis passes away and the estate is divided, these young masters will have wealth but no nobility.
If it were only about releasing someone, he might have agreed, but they also demanded an apology, and it infuriated him as if he was made of mud!
"By the way, who is your young master?"
Yang Zhenshan suddenly asked.
"My young master is called Su Shansi!" Su Bai frowned slightly, feeling that something was amiss.
"Su Shansi?" Yang Zhenshan looked puzzled, "Are you sure you haven’t got the wrong person? I don’t know any Su Shansi!"
Su Bai’s expression changed slightly, "What do you mean by that, Master Yang?"
Yang Zhenshan waved his hand, his face bearing a radiant smile, "I mean no offense. I really do not know who Su Shansi is."
He wasn’t lying; he really didn’t know the name of the young master he had sent to work on the road, even though the person had indeed been sent by him.
Su Bai took a deep breath, "Master Yang, my young master is working on road construction just outside the city; you are the one who sent him there."
"How can that be? Those working on roads outside the city are criminals from the Prefectural Government; is your young master a criminal too?" Yang Zhenshan feigned ignorance.
"Master Yang!" Su Bai’s expression turned angry.
Calling his family’s young master a criminal clearly meant he didn’t want to settle the matter peacefully.
How could the son of the prestigious Marquis Jingyuan be a criminal?
However, Yang Zhenshan paid no attention to his anger. A criminal is a criminal. Although Su Shansi smashing up Jinxiu Workshop in the city might not be a serious crime, it still violated Da Rong’s law; the Prefectural Government had already charged him with creating disturbances.
"I’m a bit curious, who gave you the audacity to meet with me, and who handed the arrogance to your Marquis Jingyuan Mansion, making you think I would fear your Marquis Jingyuan Mansion."
"Don’t even mention Marquis Jingyuan; even Marquis Changping wouldn’t send a servant to convey orders to this official!"