Chapter 70 The Ninth Day, the Flying Dragon Soars in the Sky

"Miss, please let me take a look, just one look."

"What are you looking at? Go and prepare some wound medicine, hot water, and towels."

"What does Miss need these for? Never mind, I... I won't rush you... Miss, you can take a look."

"No, it's because Sister Xie needs it when she gets back later."

"Ah, Miss Xie, what happened!"

"Your favorite magistrate is whipping you right now."

"..." The chubby-faced maid seemed stunned for a moment, then jumped up:

"Wow! This is so exciting, miss! Let me take a look, just one look!"

"?"

A slender woman with plum blossom makeup did not follow the example of the chubby-faced maid who had just been chased down, who crossed her arms and leaned lightly against the wall.

Seemingly a germaphobe, she had her left hand behind her back, and her right index finger rested between her chest and the red wall. A single slender finger supported her leaning body as she gracefully craned her neck to peek over the wall. Without turning her head, the young woman said:

"There's nothing to see."

"That young lady even took my seat. I had already set up the bench and stones, and even the sunflower seeds... Waaah!"

I won't eat your sunflower seeds.

The girl in plum blossom makeup pouted:

"I was bored, but I must say, you silly maid didn't pick a bad spot to eat melon seeds and watch the show. The view is wide... You do have some scouting talent, but it's a pity you used it for this."

"..."

Cai Shou, squatting on the ground, looked up with a wronged expression and asked:

"Didn't you say you were going to Donglin Temple today, Miss?"

"Go after you've finished watching..."

Su Guo'er's reply gradually faded, as if her mind had drifted elsewhere.

Beneath a plum branch that also peeked over the wall, she stared intently at the entrance of the Longcheng County government office not far away, where the figure of a young county magistrate speaking loudly was clearly reflected.

At one point, outside the red walls, the young county magistrate unveiled his newly constructed building, shocking everyone before leaving with an air of nonchalance.

Inside the red walls, a young woman in plum blossom makeup, standing on tiptoe, squinted and nodded. She pushed her index finger slightly forward between her chest and the red wall, using the momentum to spin around.

With her back to the red wall, she lightly grasped the hem of her skirt with both hands and gracefully leaped down from the stone bench. In the air, the hem of her light peach-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) fluttered.

"Miss, be careful." Cai Shou stood up and reached out her hand to catch it.

The young woman, seemingly with a background in dance, touched the ground with her embroidered shoes. Her long legs beneath her skirt bent slightly at the knees to distribute the weight, a clean and swift movement. She turned her head, brushed aside the hand her personal maid offered to help her up, and chuckled as she recited:

"This is called 'Nine-Five, Flying Dragon in the Sky'."

"Still flying? Miss hasn't flown in ages..."

Su Guo'er put her hands behind her back, turned her back, and walked away without explanation.

Helpless, Cai Shou hurriedly followed.

Don't be fooled by how refined our young lady is now; it's because she's grown up. When she was little, she was willful, mischievous, spoiled, and domineering. She would climb trees, scale walls, and fly around like a boy. Poor Caishou was always chasing after her.

But later, as if she had grown tired of playing around and reached a certain age, the young lady became more refined and quiet. She began to open her books, furrow her brows, and become engrossed in reading and drawing. As a result, the small book boxes in her boudoir piled up more and more, and the courtyard where she dried her books in the sun became larger and larger.

Her initially spoiled and domineering temperament gradually transformed into an increasingly aloof and cold demeanor. It's unclear whether this is a change or a further deepening of her personality.

But the chubby-faced maid still preferred the former, because when she was young, the young lady was spoiled and domineering and often bullied her, but at least she was straightforward and innocent, and she could keep up with the young lady's thoughts.

Nowadays, young ladies speak more and more concisely and are increasingly aloof. Cai Shou often can't keep up with their pace, and she feels that the master and mistress seem to be the same way.

However... well, what can you do when Miss Su has been the apple of everyone's eye since she was a child?

Master, Madam, and Eldest Son were all fussing over her.

I heard that the reason why Miss was nicknamed Guo'er was because when the family fell on hard times and moved to Jiangzhou, the road was bumpy and the First Madam, Madam Wei, accidentally went into premature labor. As soon as Miss was born, the Master immediately took off his robe and wrapped her up.

Perhaps because she was a young girl, or perhaps because they felt indebted to her because the family had suffered hardship when she was born, the master and mistress indulged her every whim from a young age.

"Miss, what exactly does the magistrate mean by 'straightening the bends'? And how can it possibly cure the flooding of Butterfly Creek?"

Although Cai Shou didn't climb the wall to observe, she did listen carefully to the sounds.

"I'm not quite sure; this is the first time I've ever heard of this kind of water conservancy."

"Is there anything Miss doesn't know?"

"Learning has no end, and one should specialize in one's field. This young man is exceptionally talented in water management and has the ability to get things done. Apart from Master Di, none of the previous magistrates of Longcheng can compare to him. It would be a waste of his talents to make him a mere magistrate."

Cai Shou thought for a moment, then muttered, "So, is he still just a pretty face? Hmm, at least he shouldn't be a hypocrite anymore..."

The stunningly beautiful woman walking ahead suddenly stopped, turned around, and pinched the chubby cheeks of the bewildered maid who had bumped her forehead against her back before she could stop.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Cai Shou begged for mercy and admitted defeat.

"Isn't it... satisfying to see your lover become successful?" Su Guo'er glanced at her sideways.

"Hmm, what lover? Miss, don't talk nonsense."

"If he's not your lover, why do you keep bringing him up every day? I don't think even Xie's sister mentions him as often as you do."

"Waaah, it's not just me talking about it. The maids in the manor are all talking about the new magistrate next door, Junjun. I'm just repeating what they've said."

The chubby-faced maid quickly waved her hands in explanation.

Su Guo'er didn't speak, her eyelids lowered, and she pinched the nice-feeling chubby face again before turning her head and going back into the house.

"Go and prepare the wound medicine, hot water, and towels. Also, take out the Lushan tea from the cabinet in the west hall in advance. You should be able to meet your 'lover' in the next couple of days."

Cai Shou was taken aback.

Su Guo'er returned to her room and flipped through Tao Yuanming's poetry collection for a while, frequently closing the book as if her mind was elsewhere.

Cai Shou's statement was indeed correct.

She never imagined that a brilliant and accomplished scholar, who could have remained in the prestigious and prestigious Secretariat of Luoyang, would choose to engage in such behavior as speaking out against the emperor and risking his life for fame.

Are you playing with your future?

Or was it intentional?

Regardless, this feeling of losing control, constantly pushing the limits of the ratings set, is unsettling.

This left her, who was usually so successful, with a slight sense of frustration.

"Could it possibly change again?"

Inside the waterside pavilion, a young, spirited, aloof woman in plum blossom makeup closed her book and bit her lip, feeling a little annoyed with someone.

...

After the Mingzhu redemption case, which had attracted the attention of the entire city, was completely concluded.

The Longcheng County Government Office and its surroundings on Luming Street remain bustling with activity.

The news that the Butterfly Creek, whose course has remained unchanged for a century, is about to be straightened by the young county magistrate spread throughout this ancient county, along with the dispersal of the people who came to watch the trial today.

The young magistrate's handling of cases and the construction of new buildings have become hot topics of conversation among the people of Longcheng in recent days, whether in the streets, markets, restaurants, or teahouses.

Under the orders of the young magistrate, the Longcheng County government moved the sand table depicting the beautiful vision of water management to Luming Street, where it was displayed on the street all day for any curious Longcheng residents to see.

Some are excited, some are optimistic, and some are worried and skeptical.

Feedback from all sides, various emotions, and all kinds of resentment, whether positive and optimistic or negative and pessimistic, were all passed through layers to a certain magistrate's desk in Longcheng County Government Office, where they were firmly held down by a long, strong, and well-defined hand.

A series of newly created documents were continuously distributed from this hand on the official desk, resolutely being implemented...

Regardless.

In this ordinary solar term, shortly after the Dragon Boat Festival and before the Minor Heat, people gradually realized that this ancient county in Jiangzhou, south of the Yangtze River, is quietly undergoing changes amidst a period of plum rain.

...

(End of this chapter)