Chapter 378: Extremely Envious [Two-in-One]

The atmosphere was subtle.

Jiang Sheng was initially puzzled as to what the connection was between his new lord not having a gun and the scholar Wenxin not having a horse.

But, in a flash, he understood.

I suddenly understood what Shen Tang was trying to say.

Then?

And that was it.

Jiang Sheng nearly turned pale.

Are these delicate topics concerning male dignity and the continuation of offspring something that can be discussed casually? Are they things he can just listen to casually?

He managed to find his reason amidst the chaos of his thoughts.

At the same time, everything became clear.

At first, he was surprised by Shen Jun's overly beautiful appearance; from every angle, from top to bottom, she clearly had the face of a woman. But after his lord's explanation, he understood. Perhaps it was because she was born without male characteristics that she hadn't yet shown any signs of male sexual activity at her age.

There was a vague sense of sympathy, but it was difficult to express it.

Whether it's sympathy or consolation, it's all very strange.

But Shen Tang just looked at him with a smile, and if he didn't say something, it seemed even more difficult to explain.

Therefore, Jiang Sheng considered carefully, afraid of hurting his lord's sensitive feelings, since castration was not his lord's original intention.

He speaks in a pleasant and inspiring way.

"My lord, I believe that a man's true masculinity lies not in his scholar's robes or the continuation of his lineage, but in his heart, his actions, and in living a life without shame before heaven and earth. My lord, rest assured, I will not leave you because of this matter. Today's events will be kept secret by the Jin people and will not be told to anyone else!" If this lord is lucky enough to outlive him, he will take the secret to his grave.

Shen Tang: "???"

Her little face seemed to be filled with question marks.

What does Jiang Sheng mean by that?

She inexplicably suspected that the two were not on the same wavelength, but she agreed with Jiang Sheng's unusual remarks and silently raised her opinion of him from failing to passing.

"Seng Deng's words are truly thought-provoking!"

Jiang Sheng received an excellent score on his exam paper.

But then, some troublesome things followed.

My lord was born a eunuch and had no heir.

If the established enterprise is merely a fleeting ripple in a chaotic world, whether or not one has offspring is irrelevant. However, if one manages to gain a foothold, the lack of offspring could become a source of turmoil. He then considered that his lord could adopt a child from a blood relative; an adopted child would be equivalent to a biological one, and the issue of offspring would be completely resolved. Having figured this out, he put the matter out of his mind.

I secretly warned myself to pretend I knew nothing about it, lest I talk nonsense one day while drunk or sick...

"No, it is my lord's magnanimity that I admire!"

Jiang Sheng was humble and respectful. If this had happened to someone else, or even to himself, he would never have been as open-minded and carefree as his lord, completely unconcerned about the strange looks.

Shen Tang felt a little embarrassed by the praise.

She smiled shyly and waved her hand, "No, no."

For a time, the newly appointed lord and his subordinate enjoyed a harmonious and pleasant conversation.

Their relationship was also unintentionally strengthened.

This made Jiang Sheng secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

It's not easy to find a ruler who possesses the imperial seal.

It's always better for the two to work well together and get along harmoniously than to be suspicious and wary of each other. He also wanted to see just how far this young and inexperienced lord could go.

Although he has spent the last few years in Luxia County, only occasionally venturing out to visit relatives and friends, he is well aware of the changing situation in Northwest China, especially in the surrounding areas of Luxia County. Among them, Heyin County is a favorite topic of conversation among the common people, and Jiang Sheng is well aware of the young prefect's many achievements.

Understanding leads to anticipation.

Shen Tang didn't give him any "newcomer observation period," skipping all the pre-job training and throwing him out to work directly, with the difficulty level matching that of Chu Yao and Kang Shi. Jiang Sheng was from Lu Xia County and knew the area best; Chu Yao and Kang Shi would have to assist him on matters related to Lu Xia County's internal affairs. Jiang Sheng didn't quite understand his lord.

Is this kind of trust really alright?

Jiang Sheng was mentally prepared to sit on the sidelines for a while, but he was almost overwhelmed by the bamboo slips and documents brought in by the officials of Luxia County. Would his former subordinates object to such a high-profile promotion? Jiang Sheng was lost in thought for a moment.

Chu Yao and the other man noticed his expression.

"Don't overthink it, my lord has always been like this."

She'd even use enemies as long as they could work for her and be squeezed out of their labor. But this truth should be left for Jiang Xiandeng to discover himself; it would damage his image if they revealed it.

Jiang Sheng frowned: "Hmm."

The three of them quietly began their work.

As for the other three families of literary scholars who accompanied the army?

Shen Tang assigned them other inspection and statistical tasks to ascertain the specific losses caused to the common people in the prefecture by the bandit attack. The capital city was relatively unscathed, as the displaced people and bandits had not yet had time to plunder, but other counties and towns had already suffered.

Shen Tang needs to know the number of people affected in order to plan how to provide disaster relief and rebuild. The most important thing right now is to appease these common people and let them see that they have other ways to survive besides being forced to become outlaws.

The king of involution, never admitting defeat!

Seeing that Shen Tang was managing Luxia County as if it were the River Governor's office, the other three families couldn't help but have other ideas.

Is Shen Jun perhaps planning to annex Luxia County?

The idea was barely sprouted when they suppressed it.

If they truly had this intention, they wouldn't have suggested that the four families take turns sending people to be stationed here, nor would they have assigned them the task of going out to inspect and collect data. Wouldn't that have given them the opportunity to fully understand Luxia County? Rather than saying that they wanted to monopolize it, it would be more accurate to say that they genuinely wanted to carry out reconstruction and enable the common people here to live a stable and well-fed life...

When the three families held their own small meetings, they were filled with admiration—this Mr. Shen was indeed a rare and pure-hearted person in the world!

Chen, the innocent and introspective king, sneezed several times for no apparent reason. Just as she was wondering which bastard was talking about her behind her back, a series of hurried footsteps approached from afar: "My lord, my lord, look who's here!" Lü Jue's voice carried a hint of joy.

He was naturally happy.

The group was about to finish their rations and were wondering whether to eat the grain from Luxia County when supplies arrived.

Shen Tang was just about to give Lu, the Prefect, her usual greeting, complaining about how he wasn't proactive at work and left her with so much work to clean up his mess, when she looked up and saw a familiar face outside the door.

She jumped up on the spot, as if she had seen a savior.

Was Yuan Liang merely her subordinate? No, no, no, he was also the capable strategist who rescued her from dire straits.

"Haha, Yuanliang, you've finally arrived!"

I wanted to give Qishan a big bear hug.

"Quick, quick, come and get busy, this half is for you!"

Qi Shan, touched by Shen Tang's enthusiasm, was speechless.

Upon hearing the second half of the sentence, his heart instantly turned cold.

"My lord!"

Shen Tang said, "I'm here."

Qi Shan: "...Was the trip successful?"

The letter Shen Tang sent back didn't contain much; it only asked him to prepare a batch of provisions and send them over, as she would be staying in Luxia County for half a month. She also took the opportunity to let everyone in the government office know that she was safe.

It only mentions the results of the support mission, but doesn't describe the process.

Qi Shan led the grain transport workers and hurried over.

Seeing the devastation in the city, one knows the battle was fierce.

Shen Tang sighed, "It went smoothly, but we couldn't save Prefect Lu. The common people of Lu have lost their support, and their future will probably be difficult. We can't expect Zheng Qiao to send a responsible successor. We can only hold on for now."

She pointed to the pile of things; the workload was less than that of He Yin County back then, but still considerable. It wouldn't be finished without working overtime for ten days to half a month. Fortunately, she had extensive work experience and could quickly get up to speed with unfamiliar county and prefectural administration.

Qi Shan comforted her, saying, "Everyone has their own destiny."

It was his fate that he couldn't save Prefect Lu.

As for the common people of Luxia County...

He lowered his voice: "Our lord doesn't want to take advantage of this..."

The county of Luxia is closest to the river magistrate of Shentang.

The other three houses are next to each other.

It is very difficult to manage.

Taking Luxia County is of little use to them, but it's different for Shen Tang. Although He Yin isn't adjacent to Luxia, the neighboring area in that direction isn't strong. If they find an opportunity to annex it, they can form a unified territory, which would benefit their lord's foundation.

Shen Tang: "Sigh, I can't have a big appetite right now."

We need to consider Wu Xian and the others.

Otherwise, if they gang up on her family, it will be troublesome.

“My lord can plan this in secret…” Qi Shan didn’t intend to let Shen Tang reveal his strength now. He paused and asked, “Did the former governor of Lu leave any offspring alive?”

"I have a daughter, Miss Lu, whom I have promised to take care of, and a grandson who is still an infant."

Qi Shan said, "Excellent!"

Shen Tang guessed what Qi Shan was going to say, but she still had to go through the motions and ask, lest outsiders think that she, as the lord, was full of ulterior motives. Of course, she was sincere, kind, and frank, her heart like crystal, pure and flawless—how could she be ulterior motives?

"What's good?"

"The former governor of Lu County had been managing Lu Xia County for many years. He had worked diligently and conscientiously, leading troops to suppress bandits and maintain peace. He was well-liked by the people of Lu Xia. This time, he sacrificed himself for the sake of thousands of common people. His family was martyred, and only his daughter and young grandson survived."

"Go into specifics."

"I'll borrow Lady Lu's name for a bit."

He led a group of commoners from Luxia to move to Heyin, while the rest stayed in their original place to rebuild. As long as they still remembered the kindness of the former prefect, and the lord generously took in his descendants... no one was more qualified than the lord to intervene in Luxia Prefecture.

It goes without saying who the common people's hearts are with.

Even if the three families have objections, it won't work; this is the choice of the local people. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, they won't even have a legitimate reason to seek compensation from Shen Tang, and will likely be branded as opportunistic and greedy…

Shen Tang: "..."

Although she had considered this idea herself, Gu Chi wasn't there, and no one could take the blame for her. She could only suggest that the four families take turns guarding the area to avoid suspicion of taking advantage of the situation and seizing the orphan's property. As for Qi Shan's suggestion…

Shen Tang said, "We'll proceed slowly."

Qi Shan smiled and clasped her hands in a gesture of respect: "Yes."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Coincidentally, Jiang Sheng arrived.

"Yuanliang, Xiandeng, let me introduce you." When old friends meet new friends, it's always her, the lord, who's always there.

Qi Shan was inside the council chamber.

Jiang Sheng was standing in the corridor of the council hall.

The two looked at each other through an open door.

The atmosphere was subtle.

"You two—know each other?" Shen Tang swallowed back the words she was about to say, and the smile on her lips gradually disappeared.

The atmosphere was as heavy as the calm before a summer storm; their eyes met, and a tempestuous storm was brewing within them.

No need to ask, they definitely know each other.

Judging from this situation...

Shen Tang suddenly remembered that Jiang Sheng had said that he had a feud with a literary man named "Yuan Liang" a few years ago.

Perhaps, possibly, probably...

Is this "Yuanliang" the same as that "Yuanliang"?

Shen Tang's lips twitched.

Just how many enemies has Qi Shan made?

First there was Qin Li, then Jiang Sheng.

Names truly are a way of filling in the gaps in one's life.

"You, you all..."

Before he could finish speaking, the two launched their attacks almost simultaneously.

With a whoosh, the sword was drawn.

Amidst the snow-white sword shadows, the bloodshot veins in Jiang Sheng's eyes were reflected.

A deep murderous intent surged in his eyes.

"Pray! Yuan! Liang!"

Shen Tang: "..."

Seeing the two attacking each other's vitals, Shen Tang wasn't in a hurry. He slipped away behind a pile of bamboo slips and documents, using it as cover to observe secretly. The two were scholars, engaged in a sword fight rather than a battle of words.

It's unlikely that any enmity between them could be a mortal one.

Both were elegant scholars, dressed in flowing robes. Regardless of their inner thoughts, they were both outwardly respectable, and their fight was a sight to behold. They battled from inside the door to outside, and from outside back inside, even tackling the roof beams.

Shen Tang watched the play, ate melon seeds, and ate a flatbread.

Occasionally, wood chips and tile fragments would fall from above, which she dodged one by one, until the commotion alerted Chu Yaokang, who was working in the next office. Chu Yaokang turned his head to dodge the "hidden weapon" that was being shot at him.

He said angrily, "What are you all up to now?"

It's obvious without even guessing that it's Qi Yuanliang's enemy.

Previously, when Qin Li looked at Qi Shan, he also wanted to draw his sword and hit him.

He and Kang Shi each stopped one of them, barely managing to quell the chaos. It would be terrible if this got out.

Jiang Sheng roared, "Chu Wuhui, let me go!"

Qi Shan brushed back her stray hairs, slightly out of breath, and said angrily, "Let him go! Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

As soon as Da You and Kang Shi let go, they resumed their fierce battle, their tempers flaring.

Kang Shi had no choice but to look to Shen Tang for help.

Only Shen Tang can stop it now.

Shen Tang received the hint and stepped forward.

She coughed lightly, using the noise to attract everyone's attention: "Ahem, ahem—Yuanliang, Xiandeng, is there some misunderstanding between you? What conflict is there? Let's sit down and talk it out. We're colleagues, so let's not hurt our relationship."

Qi Shan nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

We were colleagues?

Is his lord truly his lord?

Qi Shan was becoming uncertain. He even suspected that the resentment of the previous seven lords was the reason Shen Tang had come to deal with him. And she hadn't disappointed, specifically gathering his enemies scattered across various regions? The thought of working with Jiang Sheng in the future…

Qi Shan felt that the future was bleak.

"There's no misunderstanding..."

Jiang Sheng caught his breath, gritted his teeth, and sheathed his sword, making his stance clear. Qi Shan had no choice but to follow suit. Chu Yao and Kang Shi stood on either side of the two, keeping a distance to prevent them from starting a fight again if they weren't careful.

Shen Tang occupied the main seat.

She prepared herself for a while.

When did you two meet?

The two waited for each other, neither speaking.

Shen Tang asked again, "Why did you become enemies?"

"That requires asking how many wicked deeds this 'scheming man' committed to cause Sheng to be imprisoned in Lu for so many years..."

Jiang Sheng gave a forced smile.

Shen Tang then looked at Qi Shan.

I'm curious why this guy wanted to make Jiang Sheng a shut-in.

Qi Shan chuckled and said calmly, "This is clearly your scholarly ways at play; what does it have to do with me!"

Shen Tang: "..."

She felt her heart skip a beat.

As expected—

Qi Shan was quite troubled: "My lord, do you think your fate is tougher than a cursed lone star? Why are you so upset!"

There are countless scholars in the world who possess the proper conduct of a scholar, but does our lord have some special ability to always pick out the abnormal ones among them?

Shen Tang: "..."

(End of this chapter)