Chapter 16 Chapter 16
Chapter 16
The first time Lan Zhizhou looked at him, Song Yunzhi knew that he didn't recognize him.
When they were in the capital, the two of them had never met.
But he had some impression of the magistrate Song Yunzhi who was behind him. He passed the imperial examination with great difficulty in his fifties, but his luck was bad and he encountered the change of the new dynasty. He waited for three years before the position of magistrate of Yangzhou became vacant.
Before taking office, he traveled thousands of miles to Kyoto to meet His Majesty.
Song Yunzhi happened to be next to him that day, and he offered him a glass of wine to congratulate him on his successful appointment.
He ignored it.
The county magistrate's surname was Zhang, and his given name was Zhang Wenxian. He was a poor man from a remote town. He had never met many noble people in his life and was deeply impressed by the Prince of Song in front of him.
When I first saw him two years ago, I was shocked by his beauty. I sighed that there were such big differences in the way the Creator created people. I felt like a piece of trash in front of him. Later, I went out to ask the palace servants and found out that he was the only son of the current eldest princess and Marquis Yong'an, the Prince of Song.
Because of that glance, he often boasted to his subordinates in the past two years. When he suddenly saw the real person, his soul almost flew away.
His mind was not confused, and he immediately thought of the inspecting officials sent by the court.
It’s him!
Magistrate Zhang's legs went weak, and he dared not think about the current situation. His eyes turned black, his neck felt itchy and numb, and he couldn't straighten his tongue for a long time.
Hearing him suddenly call himself "commoner", County Magistrate Zhang was stunned. He didn't dare to open his mouth or raise his head. He didn't know whether he should continue kneeling or get up quickly.
Just as he was feeling the agony, he saw his footsteps approaching and asked, "Are you suffering from a weak constitution? I have studied medicine and can help the county magistrate clear his meridians."
Whatever he said was what it was, and County Magistrate Zhang nodded continuously.
Prince Song took his arm and pulled him to the side of the steps to sit down. He leaned over and massaged his legs, taking the opportunity to whisper, "Don't make a sound, and don't reveal my identity."
Good... He kept quiet.
County Magistrate Zhang nodded vigorously, but he asked if he could stop pinching his legs. Every pinch made his breathing stop. He couldn't bear it, and his heart was about to jump out. "Sir, I'm fine..."
It was great! Magistrate Zhang didn't know where he got the strength from, but he stood up miraculously and bowed to the young man in front of him repeatedly to express his gratitude. "Thank you very much, young man. You are a great doctor..."
The prefect saw that his steps were unsteady and his face didn't look much better. He frowned and asked, "Are you really okay?"
"It's an old problem. If I don't eat in the morning, it will become like this. Excessive sweating and weak legs..." County Magistrate Zhang raised his sleeve to wipe the sweat off his face. He still didn't dare to look at Prince Song. After falling down, he felt much more energetic. He raised his head and shouted into the restaurant, "Where are the people from the Cui family? Call them out!"
His indignant cry caused Lan Zhizhou, who was standing beside him, to look at him.
Zhang Wenxian continued to wipe his sweat and said, "Your Majesty has always paid attention to the people's livelihood. How could you oppress the good people? Today, the prefect and I will enforce the law impartially, eliminate violence and protect the good people, and give justice to the people!"
After yelling, he quickly turned around to look at Lan Zhizhou and said with a smile, "Sir, don't you agree?"
Who was this County Magistrate Zhang? Normally, he was timid and fearful, never one to stand out. These two sentences were simply righteous, like Bao Gong incarnate. Lan Mingquan was suspicious, but couldn't show it. He had been implicated by the Cui family in today's incident. If he didn't clarify and draw a clear line between them, it would be difficult to redeem his reputation in front of the people. With officials from the imperial court about to arrive in Yangzhou, he couldn't afford to get tainted by them at this moment. "The County Magistrate is right. Anyone who dares to oppress the people in Yangzhou and commit crimes will be severely punished by the government. No matter who it is, we will not tolerate it. Seal the building and take them away."
The officers went in to arrest the man.
Qian Tong got what he wanted, so he didn't need to see how they enforced the law impartially. He called out to the brave young man standing by and said, "Yun Zhen, let's go."
County Magistrate Zhang's face almost turned green.
The seventh lady of the Qian family had good taste, but poor vision. The prince of a marquisate and the emperor's nephew was kidnapped by her, a merchant, to be her son-in-law.
absurd.
She doesn't want to live anymore.
Seeing that she was about to take people away, the county magistrate quickly stepped forward and stopped her, "Madam Qian, please stay and move to the government office. I will definitely give you and the young master justice."
Qian Tong said, "That's not necessary. The eldest son of the Cui family has already paid the compensation. As long as the prefect and the county magistrate can give justice to the people who were harmed, I have nothing to worry about."
"How can I not care?" The county magistrate finally dared to look up at the two embarrassed people, "Look at the hair of Seventh Lady. Damn it, these people really dared to do it. Young Master..."
"Nothing serious." Qian Tong was busy with other matters and had no time to delay at the yamen. "It's just a minor injury. My son-in-law has been through a lot, so he's used to it. He has thick skin and tough muscles. It's nothing serious."
"Seventh Lady..." Cold sweat broke out on County Magistrate Zhang's back, and he didn't know what she said that frightened him.
But the prince deliberately concealed his identity, and he must have his own purpose. He could not say anything more, as saying more would arouse suspicion. He could only watch as the seventh lady of the Qian family took the person away.
The storm is coming.
Lan Zhizhou noticed his performance today and on the way back, he deliberately tried to test him, "Why do I feel that Master Zhang is a little different today? He is very righteous."
Zhang Wenxian slid to his knees on the spot, tearfully confessing, "I am ashamed. I have served as a county magistrate for two years, yet I had no idea such atrocities existed in my jurisdiction. Seeing the people's outrage today, I am deeply moved. I came from the countryside, and I failed to protect these people. I am ashamed to face His Majesty and unworthy of this official uniform..."
Is this his mockery of him?
Lan Zhizhou was too lazy to bear with his pretense, so he sent the man away and got into his carriage. He then revealed a hint of sarcasm, "Now that the imperial court has come to collect the money, even Zhang Wenxian knows to be prudent and protect himself, to be diligent in government and to care for the people."
His wife didn't know.
She even dared to bring his little son to the engagement party, causing trouble and leaving him to clean up the mess.
As soon as he got home, the head of the Cui family came to the door. Lan Zhizhou waved his hand in annoyance and said, "No, cancel the engagement."
The head of the Cui family originally came to ask for help. The matter of the restaurant must be suppressed, otherwise when the court officials came, the Cui family would have no way to explain themselves.
Who knew that no one saw it, but the messenger said, "As a major merchant in Yangzhou, the Cui family does not support the people of Yangzhou, and even abuses their power to bully and harm the people. How can the prefecture marry such evil people?"
The marriage fell through.
The head of the Cui family was not discouraged. He ran around the wall of the prefectural government, shouting that he wanted to see the prefect and recounting the deep brotherly love they had when they drank together a few days ago.
Lan Zhizhou was afraid that he would make things worse, so he had to call someone in.
As soon as they met, he angrily shouted, "What do you want me to do? The Qian family has won the hearts of the people first. Didn't you see the commotion on the streets today? The refugees outside the porridge stalls have all rushed over to demand an explanation for the Qian family."
The Patriarch of the Cui family knew that this was the reason he came to the door, "Sir, you have to help my Cui family find a solution..."
It's too late to do anything. They're just reluctant to part with their little money and are seeking their own doom. "The Cui family can't come up with a good idea, so you guys can just copy them, right? The Qian family knows how to set up a porridge stall, but the Cui family doesn't?"
The Cui family's head said with a sad face, "Do you think I don't want to give out porridge? It's just that our family is completely out of money."
A big family with more than a dozen restaurants in the city said they had no money to give out porridge. Who would believe it?
The head of the Cui family said, "It's really gone. A few days ago, we got engaged and I gave you 100,000 taels of silver, ten teahouses, ten shops, and ten property deeds." The prefect's wife said she wanted everything perfect. To secure this marriage, "My Cui family's wealth has been completely emptied..."
It was this sentence that sent the head of the Cui family to his death.
As soon as he left the prefectural government, he was arrested by the government office and sent to the prison of County Magistrate Zhang.
In a case where a wealthy businessman oppressed the common people, nothing could be more gratifying than seeing the head of the Cui family go to jail.
In just a few days, the Cui family suddenly fell from the top to the bottom of the valley. The marriage was broken up and the head of the family was detained in the government office. When Mrs. Cui went to ask the prefect for help again, she was kicked out.
In the evening, I heard that the eldest son had returned, and I hurried over.
The eldest son was not her biological son, and she had originally disliked him. However, he had always been able to read people's expressions and act perfectly since he was a child. Even she, the mistress, was coaxed by him and put aside her prejudices, treating him as her own son. "He is finally back. Something big happened at home. Your father was imprisoned, and the prefectural government also called off the engagement..."
The eldest son nodded and interrupted, "My son heard about it."
Mrs. Cui was extremely anxious. Her family had been so prosperous that it seemed to be collapsing overnight. She hurriedly asked, "How is the business outside? Has it been affected? Has the money been recovered?"
"Don't worry, mother. I'll take care of everything."
He has always been the pillar of the family, and Mrs. Cui has confidence in him. "Okay, quickly find a way to get your father out. The second son's business is completely shut down and can't continue..."
Thinking of something, she turned around and asked the maid, "Second Young Master hasn't come back yet? After such a big incident, where on earth did he die?!"
It was already dark, and Mrs. Cui was afraid that the second young master would be taken away by the people from the prefecture like his father, so she went out to look for him herself.
The eldest son stayed up all night, combing through the things that had happened in the mansion during his absence. After finishing a bunch of chores, he suddenly remembered what Qian Qi Niang had said during the day, "She is sick, and she has something to tell you."
Young Master Cui went into the house, changed his clothes, and went to the grandmother's yard.
As soon as he reached the corridor, he heard the loud voice of the maid.
"That seventh lady from the Qian family lost her own marriage, yet she has the nerve to incite the people to bring misfortune upon my Cui family..."
"As the saying goes, if you marry a chicken, you follow the chicken; if you marry a dog, you follow the dog. Even if something happens to the Cui family, is there anyone who can remain unscathed?"
"What do you know? Once a person loses their child, their heart is no longer with them..."
The person was sent by Mrs. Cui, and he kept scolding the eldest lady inside for a whole incense stick of time.
The words became more and more unpleasant. Seeing the extremely ugly expression on the eldest master's face, the servant hurriedly said, "I will tear these people's mouths apart..."
"No need."
Young Master Cui did not move forward and suddenly turned around.
He could imagine what kind of expression he would see on that face: crying, questioning, disappointment, regret...
There are too many things going on right now, and he is not ready to face her, so he can only avoid her.
——
After Qian Tong returned home, he was called to the front hall by the head of the Qian family and Mrs. Qian.
It was nothing more than questioning her why she suddenly broke off relations with the Cui family, and what to do if the Cui family retaliated against them, since the eldest lady was still in the Cui family.
Qian Tong said, "Sister has agreed and will come back." When the eldest son returns home today, she will get the divorce papers.
She should be back in two days.
After coming out of the front hall, she didn't rush back home. She carried the box she had obtained today and went to Song Yunzhi's courtyard. When she was in the corridor, she suddenly heard the young master inside calling her urgently, "Qian Tong!"
Qian Tong took two quick steps, stepped into the door, and replied, "I'm here."
The young man under the light was stunned, as if he did not expect her to appear suddenly. He raised his sleeves in a panic and wiped the corner of his mouth fiercely.
That wasn't blood at all; it was the lip balm she smeared on the corner of his mouth in the restaurant today.
She wouldn't wear rouge when she went out, so it went without saying that it was smeared from her lips. No wonder those people looked at him strangely during the day. Thinking of him wearing her lip rouge in public and being watched for most of the day, his ears felt hot.
Qian Tong was waiting for the young master's next words when he saw his earlobes gradually turn red. He gritted his teeth and scolded, "You have no shame!"
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