After much questioning, Zhan Xinjia finally got the answer.
The young woman before me is Cui Wanzhao, the daughter of the magistrate of Qin County.
According to Miss Cui, Xiao Shen's biological father was a blacksmith in Linshui Village, Qin County, and his mother was the daughter of a tofu seller. Unfortunately, the couple did not benefit from their son's success and passed away early due to illness.
From the age of nine, Master Shen practically grew up eating food from every household in the village.
As he grew older, he started earning money in the county by selling calligraphy and paintings and writing letters for others. He used some of the money to give as gifts to his fellow villagers, and used the rest to buy writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones.
At that time, there was a schoolteacher in the county who had moved here from Yaozhou City to retire. When he saw that this young man was kind and diligent, he immediately exempted him from his schoolwork and gave him private lessons every now and then.
Young Master Shen is also doing well.
He quickly passed the provincial examination and became a scholar, then a top scholar in the provincial and metropolitan examinations. Like a golden phoenix flying out of a mountain village, he soared into the sky and made a name for himself.
After all, as long as one's reputation is established, one can maintain one's position. As a handsome young man known throughout the surrounding area, Lord Shen had already received frequent favors from Magistrate Cui when he was still a scholar. Magistrate Cui even provided Lord Shen with the travel expenses to go to the capital for the imperial examination.
At this point, Cui Wanzhao grimaced.
"But it's strange, I don't know why there were so many people trying to assassinate Brother Shen during that period. My father, a county magistrate, did nothing but live in fear all day long!"
The three constables sent out today died; the five bodyguards sent out tomorrow also died.
My dad got so frustrated that he started to suspect that Brother Shen might be some kind of monster in disguise, using the pretense of being assassinated while secretly eating people...
Otherwise, he simply couldn't understand why so many people were interested in a poor scholar!
Moreover, the assassins who came later probably resigned themselves to their fate, thinking they couldn't kill Brother Shen, but they couldn't swallow their pride. Every time they came, they would rob Brother Shen of all his money and then beat up his men.
Cui Wanzhao looked up at the sky speechlessly, "This also caused Brother Shen to be very poor, and the officials in our yamen were always bruised and battered."
Zhan Xinjia: "..."
She had thought about how tragic Xiao Shen's background was, but she hadn't imagined it was this tragic. Hearing it made her feel a little sorry for him.
Being assassinated is one thing, but to be robbed is another!
However, after hearing the whole story, Zhan Xinjia didn't hear anything about this Miss Cui having any interaction with Lord Shen.
Cui Wanzhao is very straightforward.
"Yeah, actually I don't know him. But I heard he's a high-ranking official in the capital, so I guess I have to get to know him now..."
"Good heavens, you should be my mother's biological daughter."
Zhan Xinjia clapped her hands with a constipated look on her face, and then her mind finally returned to the important matter.
"By the way, is there any family in your county who lost their daughter seven years ago, around the Flower Festival?"
"Who remembers? If the other party reported it to the authorities, there should be a record in the county government's case file. I'll take you to check it out in a bit. Hey, don't change the subject. What exactly is your relationship with Brother Shen? I saw you come here with him with my own eyes!"
Cui Wanzhao bumped Zhan Xinjia's shoulder without any politeness and gossiped, "Brother Shen was worried about your safety. He even sent a message to my father a couple of days ago to borrow some official documents. You can't possibly be Brother Shen's maid, can you?"
To be honest, Zhan Xinjia couldn't figure out what her relationship with Master Shen was either. Uh... he almost became her brother? Did he have some selfless fatherly love for her?
Before Zhan Xinjia could speak, Cui Wanzhao suddenly gave a lewd smile and winked. This lewd posture, combined with her face that of a pampered young lady, was simply unbearable to look at.
"Hehe, could you be Lord Shen's wife? Let me tell you, if you really are Brother Shen's wife, then I'll..."
"So you'll kill me and take my place?"
Zhan Xinjia looked fearful.
Unexpectedly, Cui Wanzhao poured a cup of tea and shoved it into her hand, then went behind Zhan Xinjia and patted her shoulder, her tone becoming obsequious and fawning, showing no trace of the arrogant and disdainful attitude she had displayed when she first came in.
“I’ll serve you tea! Hey, we’re all from the same county, why don’t you talk to Brother Shen and ask him to marry me too? I’m fine as a concubine. I’m just a country bumpkin, I’ve never been to the capital in my life. I don’t care about Brother Shen, I just want to go and see it.”
At first, Zhan Xinjia thought this magistrate's daughter would probably be a difficult character, but now it seems she's not just difficult, she's an idiot!
However, Miss Cui didn't mention the plague at all; either her father hadn't told her, or Lord Shen hadn't even told her father. This was understandable, as while evacuating people in advance was important, it would be even more difficult to control if this caused panic and unrest among the populace.
After all, the people of Lanjiang did spread rumors that they were going to create a plague, but what if they were just bragging?
If things escalate to a major point but the plague does not break out, the people will inevitably have grievances against the court.
Of course, these are not things that Zhanxinjia should consider.
She's acting strangely; why is she suddenly starting to think seriously? Right now, her first priority is to find a way to go to that Hongfu Temple and find that Buddhist monk from the suburbs.
Zhan Xinjia's mind raced, and she pulled Cui Wanzhao to a corner, avoiding the gaze of the officials and maids at the door.
She lowered her voice.
"Having an affair?"
Cui Wanzhao: "???"
Zhan Xinjia: "You secretly helped me escape, and I will silently remember this kindness."
Cui Wanzhao: "..."
After thinking for a moment, Zhan Xinjia decided to offer a reason that she couldn't refuse—
“I have an acquaintance who comes from the capital and is a member of the imperial family. He is currently a recluse Buddhist monk at a temple called Hongfu Temple, which is located in the mountains not far from your county. I can introduce him to you.”
As he spoke, Zhan Xinjia elbowed Cui Wanzhao, who was clearly tempted.
"Think about it, a cold and aloof Buddhist monk, prayer beads, monastic robes, he'd give you anything—his hands on his hips, his eyes red with anger—he'd even break his vows just for you. Isn't that amazing? Isn't that pretentious? Want to talk about it? Just say the word, and I'll force you into love!"
Cui Wanzhao's eyes lit up as she listened.
She excitedly grasped Zhan Xinjia's hands, her voice trembling with excitement. Her gaze towards Zhan Xinjia was filled with admiration and gratitude, and she wished she could kowtow to him on the spot.
"Is it really so, Godfather... oh no, Godmother?"
——
After some effort, Zhan Xinjia successfully boarded Cui Wanzhao's carriage, which then leisurely drove towards Hongfu Temple.
Don't ask how those officials agreed to it.
Anyway, the order given to them by Lord Shen was just to keep an eye on her, but he didn't specify where to keep an eye on her. She and Miss Cui fell in love at first sight... no, they hit it off immediately. So what if they decided to go to Hongfu Temple to offer incense and become sworn sisters?
At worst, we can just let them come along.
So the carriage went ahead, and the officials chased after it.
Although Qin County is just a small county town, it is relatively prosperous and bustling due to its proximity to Yaozhou City and convenient trade. Being closer to the south, its architectural style and culture differ from those of the capital, leaning more towards a gentler, more refined aesthetic.
If it weren't for urgent business, Zhanxinjia would really like to take a good look around.
Inside the carriage, Cui Wanzhao, having exchanged names, was still gossiping.
"Little sister Azhi, what exactly is your relationship with Lord Shen?"
Now that she had a new target, she simply stopped calling him "Brother Shen" altogether.
What Brother Shen? He's just a fellow villager, we're not close.
Zhan Xinjia raised his hand to his forehead.
If Cui Wanzhao went to the capital, she would definitely be able to become close friends with her mother despite their age difference.
"Uh, am I fantasizing about him?"
"So what are your family's circumstances like? Isn't Lord Shen a high-ranking official in the capital? He must value family background when choosing a wife, like matching social status or something like that."
When asked about this, Zhan Xinjia, this poor wretch, couldn't hold back her tears and instantly broke down.
Her crying startled Cui Wanzhao so much that she almost jumped up and frantically tried to wipe away her tears.
"It's not my fault, please don't cry! Is your family really that poor? You can't be begging, can you?"
Zhan Xinjia cried even louder.
Cui Wanzhao: "..."
Goodness, it really is true.
Cui Wanzhao choked awkwardly, but still went against her conscience and hugged Zhan Xinjia tightly, tenderly wiping away her tears.
"Alright, alright, stop crying. Oh, little sister, I'm not trying to discourage you, but you're like a toad trying to eat swan meat.
Looking at Zhan Xinjia's fair and adorable face, Cui Wanzhao couldn't bring herself to say anything against her conscience.
This little girl looks like a rice cake, fair and tender, with big eyes and a small mouth. Her red lips and white teeth are no different from the New Year picture dolls that people hang at the door. Just looking at her makes one's heart soften.
It's okay to be poor. After all, a person can't be both cute and rich, just like she can't be both beautiful and moral. Otherwise, it would be too unfair.
The two losers were huddled together for warmth when the carriage suddenly shook and then stopped.
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