Banan Prefecture Yamen.
The copper bells on the eaves' corners were clanging sharply in the biting cold wind. Li Maocai, the County Magistrate of Qingyang, huddled in a purple sandalwood armchair, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the quail pattern on the badge of his official robe. Zhang Rucheng, the County Magistrate of Linshui, held a teacup with slightly trembling hands, the lid clicking against the rim of porcelain with a sound remarkably like the commoners beating the grievance drum outside the yamen gates.
"Prefect Xia arrives—" The bailiff's announcement made Zhang Rucheng nearly spill his tea.
Chapter 118