Saknu was amusingly amused by County Magistrate Shen’s words and seemed to be in a good mood.
"An acquaintance, Lord Shen, has seen him in Xiaoyaoshan Manor!"
County Magistrate Shen was stunned for a while, then suddenly realized, "Your Highness, you are looking for that girl, the one who has a connection with King Qin, and King Qin... Uh..."
With that uttered, he suddenly realized he had said too much and quickly shut his mouth.
However, Saknu didn’t mind, retaining his casual manner, and boldly inquired, "Have your men, on the pretext of delivering something, look for Nangong Yi and see if she is in the Great Jin Army’s main camp. If she is, have them return as quickly as possible to report to me. If not, have your subordinates search meticulously among the towns and villages on the Lingbei border."
After finishing, he seemed as if something else had emerged in his memory, "Also, send two careful men to search in Qingyun Town of Yushu County City, which is her old home!"
Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Shen respectfully acknowledged this was done. He promptly summoned his men and allocated them their tasks.
Saknu, upon hearing Count Shen’s assignment, let out a satisfied laugh.
"The County Magistrate Shen is indeed very loyal to me. Once I return to the Xiaoyaoshan Manor, I will send two high-class beauties to County Magistrate Shen," he said.
In the past, every time Saknu announced his intention to send him a beautiful woman, he would happily accept. However, today as Saknu promised to send him beautiful women, he furrowed his brows and repeatedly waved his hands, "There’s no need, thank you for Your Highness’s thoughtful care. I am ill recently and I’m afraid I cannot properly appreciate the beautiful women you wish to bestow upon me. Please forget it!"
Saknu gave him an odd look but didn’t persist, "Alright, as long as you can diligently serve me, I won’t treat you poorly. I will give you one hundred taels of gold and a hundred sable furs later."
"Thank you for your generous reward, Your Highness. I am deeply grateful," replied County Magistrate Shen, rising and expressing his thanks repeatedly.
Having said all he wanted to, Saknu had no more to say to him. He got up and left, strutting away.
As soon as Saknu left, County Magistrate Shen sprung up. Staggering as he stood up, he leaned over a table for a while before the dizziness passed.
For the last few days, his health had been terribly poor. After a great illness, his mood had plummeted.
A few days before, his favorite concubine, Lady Yan, was discovered to be infertile following an injury.
He was stunned by this unexpected news!
How could she be infertile? If she was infertile, where did her three children come from?
That day, upon hearing the news, he was on the verge of madness. In his agitation, he lost his senses and invited half of the town’s physicians to examine her again. Yet, all of them gave him the same result!
She was indeed infertile! Moreover, she had never given birth at all!
County Magistrate Shen was devastated, uncharacteristically losing control and punching Lady Yan’s limbs into submission. He then locked the half-dead Lady Yan into the woodshed and detained Doctor He and his wife. After a night of interrogation, he finally learned of Lady Yan’s faked pregnancies and children.
As it turned out, Lady Yan had been rendered infertile back in her days as a madam at the brothel. The owner had them drink sterility soup to prevent pregnancies that could interfere with their work. The three children she supposedly bore were actually all brought in by Doctor He and his wife. They were not his children!
This revelation confused him tremendously. However, Doctor He’s wife disclosed more shocking news in order to save her life. What she told him made him spit out a mouthful of blood and sent him into a coma for a full night!