IDWBE -Chapter 196 The Oath

To the right of the Provincial Administration Office was the Sanhe Guard Station. Although it was a single organization, it had two separate gates, unconnected, with a long alley in between.

The high walls blocked the sun, and the three of them cast long shadows on the cement ground.

Passing officers or constables occasionally greeted Wang Xu, sometimes casting a deliberate glance at the two girls.

When the Provincial Administration Office was first built, just like the Tonghe Palace, the land was enclosed first, so the walls were very long and wide. It took the three of them a long time to reach the end.

Turning a corner and walking along another cement path, they finally saw four golden characters: “Sanhe Prison.”

Two constables were on duty at the gate, nodding at Wang Xu.

“That’s the male prison,” Wang Xu said, continuing forward.

“That must be it,” Jiang Zhen pointed at four characters reading “Sanhe Female Prison.”

Wang Xu nodded with a smile.

At the gate, he flashed his badge at the female constables and led the two girls around the screen wall into the courtyard.

Inside, besides two rows of red-brick, black-tile buildings, a stone path, and a dozen trees, there was nothing else.

It was a stark contrast to the imposing walls outside.

“This is where we’ll be working?”

Jiang Zhen frowned.

If she hadn’t just seen the grandeur of the Provincial Administration Office, she wouldn’t have felt so disappointed.

“Captain Cao…”

Wang Xu waved to a tall, slender woman. “I’ve brought you two girls.”

Cao Xiaohuan wore neat black clothes, her hair tied high, her face delicate and immaculate. She sized up the girls and smiled. “Ah, so these are the butcher’s daughter and Hong An.”

Jiang Zhen asked, “You know my father?”

Cao Xiaohuan laughed. “Of course. Baiyun City was tiny back then—only two streets. Everyone knew everyone. Now, with all these streets and alleys, it’s easy to get lost.”

Jiang Zhen said, “Exactly! I didn’t even know when these buildings were built—I got lost just now.”

Wang Xu said, “Captain Cao, I’ve brought them over. I’ll leave now. You can take over.”

“Farewell then,” Cao Xiaohuan said. After Wang Xu disappeared behind the screen wall, her smile faded, and her face turned serious. “One of you is Fourth Rank, the other Seventh Rank. Your skills are obvious, but constables have rules and must still train. Zhou Xun!”

“Yes!”

A petite girl immediately ran over.

Cao Xiaohuan said, “You’ll familiarize them with the rules.”

“Yes!”

Zhou Xun saluted and said to the two girls, “Follow me.”

They entered a large room with a bluestone floor. Two long tables were surrounded by four benches. There was nothing else.

Zhou Xun pulled two sheets of paper from a stack on the table and placed one in front of each girl. “Memorize the contents of these first.”

“Constable regulations?”

Jiang Zhen’s face fell. “We still have to memorize them?”

She became a constable to escape her father and to avoid more schooling. Although she clashed with him, she agreed with one thing: girls just needed to know their characters.

Zhou Xun said expressionlessly, “The constable regulations were written with the prince. All constables must memorize them and follow them.”

Sighing, Jiang Zhen slumped over the table, holding the paper, reading listlessly:

“Article 1: Sanhe constables belong to the people and serve the people.
Article 2: The duty of constables is to maintain public order and social security according to law: prevent theft, fire, robbery, protect the property, rights, and lawful interests of the people, and safeguard the development of Sanhe.
Article 3: Extortion or accepting bribes is prohibited…”

Her voice grew weaker as she read.

She looked at Hong An, who had remained silent all along. “How are we supposed to memorize all this?”

Hong An shrugged. “You don’t want to be a constable?”

Jiang Zhen said, “We’re here already. We can’t leave now.”

Hong An smiled. “Then let’s just get it done.”

Jiang Zhen took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and gave herself a pep talk. “I’m a capable girl. Let’s do this!”

The two began memorizing.

They continued until their heads spun, and by evening, they had barely finished.

Zhou Xun came to check. Hong An recited fluently, without a single mistake. Jiang Zhen stumbled a little, but ultimately finished.

Zhou Xun took out the otter banner and hung it in the hall. “Raise your fists and take the oath with me.”

She raised her fist. The two girls did the same. Hong An was very familiar with this scene—guards at the He Mansion all took oaths.

She heard footsteps and saw two rows of people standing straight behind her.

Zhou Xun shouted, “I swear!”

“I swear!”

The two girls shouted along.

“I volunteer to become a constable, pledge loyalty to Sanhe and the law;
obey orders and follow commands; perform duties diligently, unafraid of sacrifice, life and death be here…
I am a sharp sword in the darkness, a guardian of Sanhe, a steadfast shield for the people.
I dedicate my life and honor to Sanhe!”

Their voices grew louder, as if something had suddenly filled their hearts, stirring their spirits.

Zhou Xun turned to salute Cao Xiaohuan, who walked over slowly. Then, standing at attention, Zhou Xun silently returned to the line.

Cao Xiaohuan said, “You’ve taken the oath. You must abide by it and never act against it.”

“Yes!”

“You’ve learned formations at school, which is good. Saves time in training,” Cao Xiaohuan continued. “From today, everything you do represents the image of a constable. You must carry yourselves properly. Zhou Xun!”

“Yes!”

Zhou Xun stepped forward.

“These two are in your charge. From today, you lead them.”

“Yes!”

Cao Xiaohuan nodded and left the room.

Jiang Zhen and Hong An officially began their life as constables.

But they hadn’t expected being a constable would be so grueling.

At noon, the sun burned down. In Baiyun City, merchants and residents hid indoors.

The constables, however, had to train under the scorching sun.

Stand at ease, attention, left turn, right turn—monotonous and boring.

Every day was the same.

They barely had time to practice their martial arts.

But Cao Xiaohuan said discipline was paramount for constables. Without rules, a team lacks order; without discipline, a team lacks combat effectiveness.

“Clearly the prince said that,” Hong An held back the urge to argue.

She remembered hearing the prince give these orders to Shen Chu and Bao Kui at He Palace.