Another matter was dealt with; although it involved a corrupt official, this scourge was eradicated for the court. The Emperor was quite pleased.
"An'an, I saw you just gave the old man a small jar. What's in it?" After getting into the carriage, the master began to recall what had just happened.
"Besides some liniment for bruises and sprains, they also gave me a jar of internal medicine pills brought back by the Amato people." Speaking of this, Anke was worried again. "Liniment for bruises and sprains can only treat external injuries. The old man refused to have Doctor Hu examine him, so I could only give him the internal medicine pills. I hope I'm just overthinking it, and the old man hasn't suffered any serious internal damage."
"An'an, you truly live up to your reputation as a descendant of the Aisin Gioro family," the master said without thinking. What he really wanted to say was that An'an, like him, possessed a compassionate understanding of all living beings.
"I was so angry just now! We were just celebrating the harvest, and that official's brother came up and started hitting people. It was infuriating! Luckily, you caught them all and are going to execute them. Otherwise, I can't even imagine what would have happened." Little Swallow was still furious when she thought about it, her fists clenched tightly.
"Yes, it's all thanks to you, sir. Otherwise, if they had returned after we left and come back to deal with the villagers, it wouldn't have been good. It's better to solve this once and for all," Ziwei chimed in.
"Anyway, we've finally solved another problem, and we've also taken care of these corrupt officials. It's true that going on an incognito tour not only makes people feel good, but it also allows us to check whether local officials are loyal to their duties. This tour was definitely the right one." The master was practically praising himself in every way possible, stroking his smooth chin and laughing heartily.
"Yes, Uncle is truly a wise ruler." Seeing how much his uncle enjoyed being flattered, An Ke also offered a compliment.
"You!" The old man pointed a finger at the mischievous Anke.
The rest of the journey was filled with the laughter and chatter of the master and his four maids in the carriage.
"I just received a letter from my younger brother before I left the palace." The old man paused mischievously, clearly enjoying seeing his niece's unusual expression. Sure enough, the next second he saw a pleading look on An Ke's face.
Although I often receive letters from my father, he has never mentioned in his letters when he will return to Beijing. Moreover, if my father is going to return to Beijing this time, I need his help, so I want to find out more details.
"An'an probably hasn't received the message yet, right?" The old man waved his fan, glanced at An Ke, and said casually.
“Never. Every time Father writes, he just says he’s safe. He’s never told me when he’ll return to the capital.” Anke lowered her head, feigning distress. You’re good at acting, but I’m even better! From an angle unseen by others, Anke’s eyes were full of amusement.
As expected. Seeing An Ke's state, the old man realized his mistake and felt deeply remorseful for hurting the young girl. "Alright, alright, your uncle will tell you. If they won't tell you, your uncle will." His voice was so gentle it was almost sickeningly sweet. If Yongqi heard this, he might even suspect that the Emperor had been possessed.
After all, his own father, the Emperor, had never spoken to him in that tone before.
Your Majesty: Can you compare to your cousin An'an?
Yongqi: Why not?
Your Majesty: I'm afraid if I speak to you in this voice, you'll be terrified. (￣￣?^￣??)
Yongqi: ...That makes so much sense, I can't refute it at all.
"When did Uncle say Father would return?" Anke asked, feigning a hoarse voice. She couldn't squeeze out any tears, but she could still change her tone.
"By the time we go on our tour, your father will probably have arrived in the capital." Thinking that he hadn't seen his younger brother for a long time, not only did the Empress Dowager and An'an often think about him, but how could he, as the older brother, not miss his brother? It's just that he didn't express it much.
The Emperor: You're not a young lady, how can you keep saying things like "I want to" or "I don't want to"?
Prince Rui: Brother, I heard you miss me? (In a cheeky tone)
Your Majesty: ...Who exactly spread this rumor? Why would I miss you?
Prince Rui: ... (My brother is such a show-off, Strong Brother!)
"Really? That's wonderful!" Anke was instantly overjoyed, feeling that this trip was definitely worthwhile. Not only would her mood improve, but many good things would also happen.
*
Yongqi, who was riding a horse next to Ertai outside the carriage, couldn't help but be infected by the cheerful laughter coming from inside the carriage, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
But upon seeing Ertai beside him, Yongqi couldn't help but reflect on why he had once again lost control of himself. He had clearly said he would keep his distance and think things through carefully. How could he have broken his principles and bottom line again?
Besides listening to the sounds inside the carriage, Ertai was also keeping an eye on his surroundings, constantly observing whether there was any danger.
Speak of the devil, and he appears. Before long, the sound of gongs and drums could be heard again.
Ertai swiftly mounted his horse, ready to follow Lord Fuheng to explore the situation ahead. Fuheng, seeing the young man following, said nothing and tacitly allowed him to stay by his side.
Meanwhile, Erkang secretly felt resentful, even though he was the eldest son of the Fu family. Since returning from confinement, he felt that everything and everyone around him had changed drastically, especially his usually quiet and unassuming younger brother.
He hadn't noticed it before, but now he felt that his younger brother seemed to be hiding something from him. For example, his brother had never shown him such good riding skills before. And it seemed that a barrier had formed between Yongqi and Benjamin, one that no one could overcome.
This feeling made Er Kang extremely uncomfortable. He used to be the undisputed leader in this group, but now it seemed like no one could see him anymore. Where exactly did things go wrong? Even the usually proud and complacent Er Kang couldn't help but start thinking about everything that had happened since he returned from confinement.
Could it be that Father, seeing him confined and stripped of his position as Imperial Guard, is now starting to groom Ertai? Erkang gave a disdainful, cold laugh. So what if they start grooming Ertai now? He was clever as a child, but in the years that followed, he spent his time stealing chickens, climbing trees, and raiding bird nests. He's probably long since forgotten everything he learned.
He was impressive in horsemanship, but without consistent, accumulated experience, it would be difficult to surpass himself in other areas. Erkang, however, was confident in his martial arts and literary skills. He knew that if his father discovered Erkang's inferiority, he would eventually turn to him for guidance. But his pride and arrogance made him forget to look in the mirror.
A truly talented and intelligent person would never allow themselves to become just another ordinary person. He only pretended to be a spoiled brat before to protect his family. Now, for the woman he wants to marry, he will naturally do everything in his power, especially since his father has given his approval. Ertai is now even more determined.
Since his brother could not bring glory to the family and even tarnished his image in the princess's eyes, he decided to fight for his own future.
I originally intended to go ahead and gather information, but the master had already heard the sounds of gongs and drums outside and ordered the carriage to speed up.
Then, from a distance, a group of villagers could be seen holding a plaque.
After riding a short distance, Fu Heng looked back and saw that the carriage, which had been galloping at full speed, had also come to a stop. They were waiting for the main force to arrive. During the wait, he also took a look at Fu Lun's second son.
He had always heard how outstanding the eldest son of the Fu family was, but the second son was inferior to his brother in both literature and martial arts. He often skipped classes and was lazy in his studies, but he was better at playing around in miscellaneous matters than anyone else. He used to think so too, that the second son of the Fu family was just a hopeless case and that calling him a spoiled brat would be an understatement.
Looking at the handsome young man beside him now, Fu Heng realized he might have been blinded by appearances. From his observations over the past few days, the young man was more composed and dignified than his brother. Fu Heng was quite satisfied and nodded. But that wasn't enough, so Fu Heng decided to observe this young master Fu even more closely from now on.
Before long, they were caught up by the master's carriage, and the master himself got off. Seeing the lively scene of gongs and drums, he thought there was some exciting event happening again. He quickly prepared to go and see what was going on. Before leaving, he didn't forget to call his gossipy niece along.
Encore: I really thank you for thinking of me like this.
"Hurry up and let the magistrate step down. Let's all go see him off," the young man leading the villagers said to the large group of villagers behind him.
"It seems that besides that corrupt official in Plum Blossom Town, there are still quite a few good officials. It's truly remarkable that so many people are seeing off the county magistrate upon his departure." The master was most pleased to see this, as all his officials were honest and courteous. So, he stepped forward to inquire further.
He went there with a smile on his face, but as he listened to what was happening, the old man's face turned ashen.
"Sir, this is a plaque specially made for you by Rong County, inscribed with the words 'Five Great Heavens and Earths.' You are about to step down from your post, and we have come to see you off," the leading young man said with a friendly smile.
The villagers behind him echoed, "Yes, accept it, accept it."
Qing'er found it somewhat unbelievable and murmured, "I didn't realize that this magistrate had such benevolent governance of the Five Great Heavens."
An Ke was utterly shocked upon hearing this, turning to look at Qing'er beside her. Good heavens, this is incredible! She really has an incredibly perceptive detective by her side.
Think about it, in the drama, it was she who discovered all the oddities. I only relied on the "knowing the plot" cheat code, while Qing'er relied purely on her reasoning and observation. What a keen intuition that must be! In later times, that would be enough to be a private detective.
Hearing this, Ziwei immediately stood up and expressed her thoughts. "We can't judge a book by its cover. Maybe this magistrate really is virtuous. Look at those people seeing him off; their smiles are all genuine." Ziwei observed the expressions of the surrounding villagers. She felt she hadn't spoken wrong this time, and even thought she had said it very well. She then secretly glanced at the master.
An Ke, Qing'er's number one supporter, immediately countered, "How do you know he has virtuous governance? As for these people, maybe they're celebrating the magistrate's retirement? Besides, some people's thoughts are easily revealed through their facial expressions. For example, this magistrate's face might not reflect the incorruptible and honest character you imagine." An Ke was simply stating the facts; his true colors would soon be revealed by the people.
Ziwei, however, looked like she was being targeted, her eyes brimming with tears, swaying precariously, her lips tightly pressed together, as if she had been bullied. "But the surrounding villagers are so joyfully congratulating the magistrate on his departure, how could this magistrate not be an honest official?"
An Ke felt a headache coming on seeing Ziwei's expression. Not wanting to get entangled with her any longer, she said, "Whether they're good officials or bad officials, let's just keep watching. You've expressed your opinion, and I'm just stating my thoughts. Let's just leave each other alone." An Ke's tone was quite cold.
Ertai, on the other hand, acted like a devoted fanboy, believing that everything the princess said was true. If the princess said this was a bad official, then this official must not be a good one. He even found the magistrate's appearance repulsive.
Ziwei felt even more aggrieved upon hearing this, her nose even starting to redden slightly. Erkang, who had been holding back for a long time, was about to step forward to argue when Fulun stopped him. Erkang stared at his father, who had stopped him, with disbelief. Did his father also think this minor official wasn't a good one? So many people were giving him a warm send-off; couldn't his father and the others see that? Ziwei had clearly told the truth, yet the Princess of Yong'an was being so aggressive. Was it because of her status? Was his father being pressured by her position to stop him?
Erkang looked at his father with eyes full of disappointment. He had thought his father was a breath of fresh air in the court, fearless of power and utterly loyal. He never expected him to be such a sycophantic and opportunistic person.
Fu Lun only knew that if he didn't stop his rebellious son, if he were to speak out, the Fu family would have no place in the court after returning home. He was completely unaware that his image in Er Kang's eyes had already collapsed.
Okay, even if I knew, I wouldn't care. Compared to the lives of my family, let it collapse if it wants.
As expected, a twist occurred. The young man announced loudly, "Now, please invite the county representatives to recite the five virtues of the county magistrate."
The villagers around them clapped enthusiastically, even cheering. Erkang and Ziwei felt victory was assured. Seeing the joyful expressions of the people around them, they knew this official must be an honest one.
"Your Excellency, when you first took office, it was a time of extravagance and luxury; when you lived in the government office, it was a time of revelry and debauchery; when you sat in court to hear cases, it was a time of utter chaos and confusion. When the people suffered injustice, you were filled with resentment and hatred. Today, you have finally stepped down, and we are truly grateful to heaven and earth." The county representative spoke with great passion.
These words stirred the villagers to great acclaim, while the magistrate's face paled. Erkang and Ziwei, upon hearing the first sentence, also looked ashen. Ziwei, in particular, was shocked; she had just spoken so eloquently in defense of such a corrupt official. She now dared not even look the magistrate in the eye.
The old man's face was also ashen, but anyone would find this unbearable. He had initially thought the man was an honest and upright official, only to discover he was a corrupt one. How could the emperor, as the monarch, accept this? An Ke even felt a pang of sympathy for his uncle at this moment.
They were afraid that the corrupt officials they would encounter along the way would harm their uncle's fragile and young heart.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com