They had tomato scrambled eggs, braised pork ribs, and loofah greens soup for dinner.
After finishing one bowl of rice, Julie returned to her room.
She slept in her own room that night.
Days passed peacefully like this for over twenty days.
Until one afternoon, around 1–3 p.m., a yamen officer came to Julie's house.
He informed her that she must attend a meeting at the magistrate's office the next morning at 9 a.m.
It had been more than a month since Wei Zhen died, so it made sense that a new magistrate would take office.
Julie thanked him, watched him leave, and went back to her room.
She didn't care who the new magistrate was.
As long as no one tried to take her money or plot against her, she would continue living her quiet life.
She didn't have to worry all the time.
She didn't need to live every day as if it might be her last.
She spent her days farming, practicing martial arts, and exercising now and then. It kept her healthy, and she felt good.
She had thought about how to support herself in the future.
But to be honest, just the gold and silver she had collected during a few trips were enough to keep her fed and clothed for a long time.
She also had gold bars and ginseng stored in her space. Selling those would bring in more money.
Realistically, she wasn't good at cooking, so opening a restaurant was out of the question.
She didn't plan on hiring people either.
That would mean she'd have to go to the shop often, spend time, spend money, and use energy.
Not her strength.
In this dynasty, men weren't allowed to do business or show themselves publicly.
It would make their wife look bad or cause others to look down on them.
Other than being skilled in killing, Julie didn't have much talent and wasn't good at socializing.
People like her weren't fit for office or business.
Business needed charm, flexibility, and friendliness.
With her cold face, who would want to come in?
She looked cold just standing there.
Julie understood that she didn't have many strengths or talents, so she never considered it.
When she first saw how broken and messy the house was, if her space hadn't come with her, she planned to catch some wanted criminals for bounty.
If there weren't any, she'd look at the underground bounty board.
There should be one in every dynasty.
There would always be someone others wanted to capture or kill and were willing to pay a high price for.
That kind of work was her specialty.
Julie sat cross-legged and rested with her eyes closed.
Dinner was noodles made from a mix of fine and coarse grains, with three eggs, a handful of greens, two tomatoes, a few drops of soybean oil, and some chopped scallions.
She added a spoonful of chili to her bowl and started eating heartily.
Even though the spiciness made her sweat and feel warm, it definitely increased her appetite.
She ate two full bowls before stopping.
She set down her chopsticks, returned to her room.
Nighttime, around 9–11 p.m.
Julie walked into Haven's room. As soon as she stepped in, someone hugged her from behind.
She almost threw him to the ground on reflex.
"Wife, I missed you," came the soft, cautious voice filled with affection.
Hearing Haven's voice, Julie clenched her fists.
She didn't say anything, but she didn't push him away either.
Everything followed naturally...
Julie had limits, and three times was usually enough for her.
She had needs, but not strong ones.
By the second time, Haven was so exhausted he fell asleep, still smiling contentedly in his sleep.
Julie glanced at his sleeping face, looked away, and closed her eyes.
She thought silently... next time, if he doesn't trim his nails, she's not coming.
Her back was burning again.
He really was like a cat that always got the better end.
Julie left at 5 a.m.
She returned to her room and applied some medicine.
Luckily, it was near her lower back and she could reach it.
She rested her eyes for a while, changed into a purple satin outfit, and left her room.
It was one of her nicer clothes, not something she would wear while working on the farm.
Only for meetings or when going to town.
Julie had just stepped out when she entered the main hall.
Bailee walked over with a tray of freshly made corn pancakes. They were still steaming, clearly just cooked.
His expression was gentle and calm, giving off a warm feeling.
Even though he wore simple clothes, he had a tall figure, graceful manner, fair skin, and handsome features.
When he spoke, his voice was soft, low, and soothing. "Wife, I know you have a meeting this morning. I didn't want you to go hungry on the road, so I made some pancakes. You can eat a couple now, and I'll pack the rest for you to take with you."
After speaking, he glanced at Julie shyly.
Julie caught his bashful look and smirked.
He quickly lowered his head.
Julie wasn't planning to eat breakfast, just head straight to the meeting.
But since he made the effort, she didn't turn him down.
She thanked him, took the bamboo basket, placed it on the table, and sat down.
She picked up a pancake and took a bite. It was warm, nicely flavored, and perfectly seasoned.
She ate three pancakes in a row before stopping.
She took a few sips of tea from the cup on the table.
There were still four pancakes left. Julie didn't take them with her. "You two can eat the rest. I'm heading out."
She got up and, as she passed Bailee, saw his obedient expression.
She couldn't help but reach out and ruffle his hair before walking away.
She didn't see Bailee gazing sweetly at her back with a mix of shyness and fondness.
Only after she disappeared did he lower his eyes and smile to himself.
Then his expression turned complicated, like he was both frustrated and conflicted.
Bailee: "…It's been two days since I washed my hair."
Julie didn't notice any oiliness.
She actually thought his hair felt soft and smooth, pleasant to the touch.
She had just found him really cute and reached out without thinking.
Julie rode Little Black straight into the back courtyard.
The yamen guards recognized her and let her pass without question.
She easily tied up Little Black and headed to the main hall.
She arrived close to 9 a.m., so most of the seats were already taken.
Julie walked toward an empty spot and, by coincidence, ended up next to Gong Yun.
He was surprised to see her, then smiled and greeted her, "Chief Julie, we meet again. Do you still remember me?"
Julie nodded. "Gong Yun, I remember. Nice to see you again."
Gong Yun smiled more naturally after hearing Julie's response. She moved closer and lowered her voice, "Did you hear? Magistrate Wei was assassinated last month. No one knows who did it, and they still haven't caught the killer. A new magistrate is coming to take over. You know how it is—new leaders always want to make a big impression. I just hope we don't get caught up in it."
She sighed after speaking.
For local officials like her, it didn't really matter who the magistrate was, as long as the new one wasn't greedier than the last. That way, life could be a little easier.
Julie nodded after hearing this, showing just the right amount of confusion on her face. This made Gong Yun feel pleased, thinking she knew more than Julie.
She was about to continue bragging about her guesses when the new magistrate arrived.
It was someone very familiar—Dong Miao.
Normally, someone in her position as a secretary wouldn't be able to move directly into the magistrate role. But after Wei Zhen's death, Dong Miao secretly worked hard to pull strings and hand out bribes. After more than twenty days of effort and spending most of her life savings, she finally secured the position.
Everyone was surprised to see Secretary Dong become the new magistrate.
Julie thought to herself—it happened just as she expected.
Her face showed no reaction.
Julie had guessed Dong Miao's motives ever since she received her letter. After all, they weren't relatives or close friends. Nothing in this world comes free. That "kind warning" likely came with personal motives.
If it were someone else with a simpler heart, they might feel grateful to Dong Miao while also resenting Wei Zhen. In that case, Dong Miao's plan would have worked perfectly.
Once resentment starts, it usually grows. Dong Miao also knew Julie had martial skills—even if she didn't know how skilled, she saw her as a potential weapon.
In some ways, Julie and Dong Miao were the same type of people.
When something happened, the first thought was always about themselves—how to weigh the risks and benefits.
Both selfish. Both cold.
Old foxes don't play tricks on each other.
But it was still better this way. At least she wouldn't need to pay "respects" anymore.
Dong Miao observed the village heads' reactions and felt pleased. When her gaze swept over Julie, it paused briefly but then quickly moved on.
Her identity had changed, and so had her aura. She no longer acted cautiously. Her words now carried authority and the tone of an official.
"Hello everyone. I believe you all know me already. I was very saddened by Magistrate Wei's death, but life must go on. I've been appointed to take over as the new magistrate. If you face any issues or problems, feel free to come to me. Meetings will still be held once a month, followed by a shared meal. Now, let's go ahead and hear about each village's current situation."
Dong Miao listened carefully as each village head spoke. Her new secretary sat beside her, taking detailed notes.
The secretary was one of her trusted people. After all, Dong Miao had been in the county office for years. There's no way she wouldn't have a few loyal followers.
Without a trusted person in such a key role, she couldn't feel at ease.
She took a couple of sips from the tea in front of her.
While doing so, she stole a few glances at Julie, feeling suspicious and curious.
After several nights of nightmares and her growing unease, she made a decision in her heart—to ensure her position stayed secure.