Chapter 70 Emperor Chongzhen gave this old servant one... one to redeem himself with his life...
Jiang Ge straightened his clothes and walked side by side with Zheng He on the bluestone path in front of the county government office. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the locust tree leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. A few sparrows chirped and hopped about on the branches, adding a touch of life to the tranquil morning.
“Sanbao,” Jiang Ge said gently, brushing aside the locust tree branch that was drooping in front of his eyes, his voice carrying a hint of helpless laughter, “This recruitment was like drawing a blind box, it was random, I never expected that Wei Zhongxian would be the one to come.”
Jiang Ge was still willing to offer a few words of comfort to Zheng He, who had been working so hard.
Zheng He paused slightly upon hearing this, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. He stopped and turned to look at Jiang Ge, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns of light on his resolute face.
“My lord,” Zheng He carefully chose his words, his voice low and steady, “this man is treacherous and cunning, forming cliques and persecuting loyal officials in the court. If he remains in the county government…”
This inevitably leads to more trouble.
Jiang Ge gently raised her hand, interrupting Zheng He. She turned to face a cluster of roses in full bloom, her fingertips lightly tracing the delicate red flower.
“I know what you’re worried about,” Django’s voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness, “but have you ever considered why he was able to wreak havoc on the court?”
Zheng He paused slightly, his gaze falling on Jiang Ge's profile. The sunlight cast a soft golden glow on her face, highlighting her exquisite features.
“This…” Zheng He pondered for a moment, “This subordinate is foolish and would appreciate your guidance, sir.”
He knew that the emperor had given him too much power, but he dared not say it.
Django plucked a rose petal and gently twirled it between her fingers, the bright red sap staining her fingertips.
“Songyang County needs more than just upright gentlemen to develop.” She looked up at Zheng He, her eyes gleaming with wisdom. “Sometimes, we need a sharp blade, even if that blade has been stained with blood.”
The sound of children's laughter drifted from afar; several farm children were chasing and playing on the ridges of the fields. Zheng He gazed at this peaceful scene, lost in thought.
"What does Your Excellency mean?"
“Wei Zhongxian was indeed a treacherous minister,” Jiang Ge casually tossed a flower petal into the wind, “but he was also a capable one. He cultivated his influence in the court for many years and was extremely knowledgeable about politics and finance. Such a person, if used for the right purposes…”
A gentle breeze rustled the locust leaves, as if echoing Django's words. Zheng He's gaze followed the drifting petal, and his doubts gradually dissipated.
"I understand," Zheng He said solemnly, bowing. "Your Excellency is far-sighted; I was short-sighted."
Jiang Ge shook her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips: "No, Sanbao, your concerns are very valid. Wei Zhongxian does indeed need to be kept under close watch." She paused, a sly glint in her eyes, "If he can be guided onto the right path, the Ming Dynasty can be extended for another thirty years without any problem, so this task is entrusted to you."
A good cat is one that can catch mice, whether it's black or white.
Zheng He was taken aback at first, but then he understood, and a smile appeared on his resolute face: "Your subordinate will certainly live up to your expectations, sir."
Songyang County raised a batch of piglets, and Jiang Ge specifically assigned Ding Yi to be in charge. Ding Yi was getting old and was raising his grandson alone, so raising pigs was a relatively easy job. The pigsty was built in a corner behind the county government office, surrounded by several persimmon trees that had already begun to bear unripe fruit.
Jiang Ge rolled up the sleeves of her official robes, revealing slender yet strong arms. She squatted by the stone trough next to the pigpen, watching the piglets eating heartily. The piglets grunted and rooted around the trough, their pink noses covered in pasty feed.
Before he could even finish watching, Django was already preparing to make his move.
"Sir, this...this won't do!" Ding Yi stood hunched over, his wrinkled face filled with fear. His rough fingers nervously twisted the hem of his apron, which was stained with pig feed and mud. "How can I let you do this yourself..." His voice trembled slightly.
"Old Ding, watch carefully." Jiang Ge didn't even look up as she dipped a small, gleaming curved knife into the water, creating ripples on the surface. "This method can make pigs less sick and fatter. If you learn it, you can earn more money by castrating pigs for others." She tested the blade and nodded in satisfaction.
Raising a child is too expensive, and although the county government pays wages, it's not much. Jiang Ge recalled seeing Ding Yi's grandson staring longingly at the sugar figurine stall on the street yesterday.
As Django squatted beside the pigsty sharpening his knife, a number of villagers had already gathered around, peering and peeking. Several women carrying vegetable baskets stood at a distance, occasionally whispering to each other.
"What is the magistrate doing?" The young woman in the blue cotton shirt stood on tiptoe to look. "Is he going to treat the pigs?"
Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Geli leaped into the pigpen and pinned down the strongest spotted pig. The villagers watching immediately stirred, and several children hid behind the adults in fright.
"Oh my God!" The young woman dropped her vegetable basket with a thud, scattering the freshly picked tender greens all over the ground. "Is this...is this a pig being slaughtered?"
An uproar erupted in the crowd. The old man with the goatee stamped his feet anxiously, "This won't do, sir! This pig isn't even fully fattened yet!" He looked at the struggling spotted pig with heartache, "If it's raised for another two months, it'll yield at least twenty more pounds of meat!"
It would be such a waste to kill them now.
Several half-grown piglets in the pigpen seemed to sense something and huddled uneasily in a corner. One of the spotted boars was particularly robust and was watching them warily with its small eyes, making "huffing" sounds from its nostrils and pawing at the ground with its hind legs.
Just as Jiang Ge was about to get up, she suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps. She turned her head and saw Wei Zhongxian running over, lifting the corner of his robe. His usually pampered and fair face was covered with mud, and beads of sweat glistened on his forehead in the sunlight.
"My lord! How could I trouble you to do such rough work yourself!" Wei Zhongxian stopped panting outside the pigsty, his high-pitched voice rising a few decibels with urgency. His eyes were fixed on the knife in Jiang Ge's hand, fine beads of sweat beading on his forehead and sliding down his cheeks. The hem of his clothes was already covered with mud and bits of grass.
Jiang Ge raised an eyebrow: "Eunuch Wei also knows about castrating pigs?" Her voice was teasing, but her eyes were sharp as she observed every change in Wei Zhongxian's expression.
Fortunately, this wasn't the Ming Dynasty; otherwise, mentioning castrating pigs in front of Wei Zhongxian would surely have him torn to pieces. Jiang Ge chuckled inwardly, his fingers unconsciously tracing the patterns on the hilt of his sword.
Moreover, the Ming Dynasty had a taboo against killing and castrating pigs, and even renamed pigs. How could Wei Zhongxian possibly have any knowledge of pig castration?
“I have done quite a bit of research on this matter,” Wei Zhongxian said, already deftly rolling up his sleeves to reveal surprisingly strong arms. “This kind of work is my specialty.” He bent down even lower. “I beg you, sir, to give me a chance to redeem myself.” His voice was earnest, but his eyes flickered uncertainly.
He doesn't study pig castration, he studies eunuchs.
"When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head." Wei Zhongxian sighed inwardly, wrinkling his nose at the stench emanating from the pigsty.
Suddenly, the spotted pig in the pen let out a squeal, its hind legs kicking the ground violently, splashing mud high into the air. Ding Yi's little grandson burst into tears, and the old man quickly shielded the child behind him, gently patting the child's back with his rough hands.
In that split second, Wei Zhongxian had already scaled the fence. His movements were astonishingly fast, completely unlike those of a pampered eunuch. His left hand gripped the pig's neck like an eagle's claw, while his right hand took the knife from Jiang Ge's hand. With a flick of his wrist, he executed a fluid and graceful motion. Sunlight shone on the blade, reflecting a blinding gleam.
"Watch closely!" he hissed. Before Ding Yi could react, Wei Zhongxian's knife tip precisely sliced across a spot, silencing the pig's squeals abruptly. The entire movement was fluid and clean, displaying astonishing skill.
The onlookers gasped in amazement. Zhou's wife gaped, forgetting to pick up the vegetables in her hand: "This...this is so fast!" Several men who looked like hunters stared wide-eyed. They were seasoned hunters and knew their stuff well; such skill couldn't be acquired in less than ten or eight years.
Jiang Ge casually tossed a clean handkerchief to him. "Since you're so enthusiastic, deal with the rest as well." She turned to the dumbfounded Ding Yi. "Old Ding, you should learn from Eunuch Wei." Her gaze lingered on Wei Zhongxian for a moment, as if deep in thought.
When Django and Zheng He left, the pigsty had returned to calm. Wei Zhongxian was patiently teaching Ding Yi how to identify the age and physique of pigs, his tone surprisingly gentle compared to the rumors. His grandson squatted nearby, curiously touching the prepared piglets and giggling. Sunlight shone on them, casting three harmonious shadows on the ground.
"I never expected him to have this trick up his sleeve," Zheng He said in a low voice, his voice tinged with disbelief. He glanced back and saw Wei Zhongxian gently wiping the mud off the child's face with his sleeve.
Jiang Ge glanced back. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the locust tree leaves, casting dappled shadows on Wei Zhongxian's hunched back. The once-powerful eunuch was now personally instructing an old yamen runner on how to fatten pigs.
“Everyone has a side that no one knows about,” Jiang Ge said softly. “The key is whether you can put the right person in the right place.” She reached out and caught a falling locust leaf, twirling it between her fingers.
From afar came Wei Zhongxian's voice instructing Ding Yi: "...The knife should be inserted at an angle, the wound will be smaller and heal faster..." His tone was so professional, as if he were born a master castrator. A few sparrows landed on the pigpen roof, curiously tilting their heads to watch this scene, chirping as if discussing this strange occurrence.
The onlookers gradually dispersed, chatting in small groups about what they had seen that day. Zhou's wife, carrying a newly filled vegetable basket, exclaimed to her companion, "That new pale-faced gentleman looks so refined, but I never expected him to be even more efficient than the old butcher! He's just a bit effeminate, though."
“Absolutely!” his companion chimed in. “And she even uses a delicate, effeminate gesture with her fingers.”
Several men who looked like hunters squatted by the roadside, still savoring the scene they had just witnessed. One of them took out his pipe, and while filling it with tobacco, he exclaimed, "Did you notice the old man's technique? The way he turned his wrist when he made the cut..."
Zheng He's identity could be concealed to some extent, but Wei Zhongxian's eunuch-like demeanor was too strong to be hidden.
As the sun set, Wei Zhongxian washed his hands and stood by the pigpen, watching the piglets quiet down, a rare look of relief on his face. Ding Yi's little grandson tugged at his clothes, looking up at him and asking, "Sir, will you come teach Grandpa how to castrate pigs again tomorrow?"
Wei Zhongxian paused for a moment, then squatted down and patted the child's head: "Come on, of course you're here." His voice was surprisingly gentle, even surprising himself.
Not far away, Jiang Ge stood under the eaves, taking in the entire scene. She gently stroked the locust leaf in her hand, a slight smile playing on her lips. Zheng He stood beside her and whispered, "Your Excellency truly has discerning eyes."
“Just wait and see,” Django said, tossing the leaf into the air.
After all the pigs were castrated, it was time to leave work. Other historical figures, ashamed to be associated with Wei Zhongxian, naturally didn't take him along for anything and didn't say much to him.
Wei Zhongxian had been busy all day, without even having a sip of hot tea, yet he remained energetic, with a perfectly timed smile on his face, leaving no room for criticism. The setting sun cast a long shadow upon him.
The others returned home amidst the white light, but Wei Zhongxian remained standing. He rubbed his hands, intending to approach Zheng He and try to ingratiate himself with him, hoping the latter wouldn't tell the Emperor Taizu about the pig castration that day. Only after the castration was finished did he remember that the Emperor Taizu was quite averse to pig slaughter.
well.
He was so focused on currying favor with Magistrate Jiang that he completely forgot about the founding emperor.
Wei Zhongxian slapped his forehead in frustration, beads of sweat glistening in the setting sun. He had been so focused on impressing Magistrate Jiang that he had completely forgotten such an important matter. Thinking of this, a cold sweat broke out on his back, and even his legs felt weak.
Zheng He didn't give him a chance to speak at all and turned to leave. Zhou Yu was still fanning the flames from the side, patting Zheng He on the shoulder and teasingly saying, "Sanbao, it looks like you're going to be sick for a few more days."
Zheng He merely smiled slightly upon hearing this, neither confirming nor denying it, but his meaningful expression made Wei Zhongxian's heart tremble.
What's the meaning?
What does this mean?
"What...what does this mean?" Wei Zhongxian wrung his hands anxiously, his voice trembling. "What will happen if Lord Sanbao falls ill?!"
Thinking of the possible consequences, tears streamed down Wei Zhongxian's face. He could almost see himself hanging from the rafters of the Fengtian Hall, being whipped by the Taizu Emperor. The image was so real that it startled him, and tears flowed uncontrollably.
Seeing Wei Zhongxian like this, Jiang Ge couldn't help but laugh. Not only could Wei Zhongxian foresee his future, but she could too. It was nothing more than Zhu Yuanzhang fighting Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Yuanzhang fighting Zhu Di, Zhu Di fighting Zhu Di, and Zhu Di fighting Zhu Youjian.
The second half of his life was spent being beaten.
Wei Zhongxian was feeling down. He didn't want to go back. He only knew that the emperor would kill him in the future, and he had also offended the founding emperor. Going back was worse than not going back at all.
Just then, a fair hand suddenly reached out in front of him and handed him a small booklet. Wei Zhongxian looked up and saw Jiang Ge looking at him with a half-smile.
“This is…” Wei Zhongxian wiped away his tears, opened the booklet, and saw the title “System Mall Product Manual” neatly written on the title page. He looked up in confusion.
“I think this thing might be able to persuade Emperor Chongzhen to spare your life for the time being,” Jiang Ge said softly.
Don't kill him...
Really?
Wei Zhongxian hurriedly wiped away his tears, opened the small booklet, and his eyes lit up as he read it. With this, the emperor would not only not kill him, but would also treat him well.
With the manual, Wei Zhongxian was no longer afraid to return to the capital.
A flash of white light, and the eunuch returned to the palace!
During the entire day that Wei Zhongxian was gone, the palace was in complete chaos. Although he had made arrangements before leaving, the eunuchs and palace maids who usually obeyed him were now running around like headless flies in the corridors.
"Your Excellency!" A sharp-eyed eunuch rushed over as soon as he saw Wei Zhongxian, almost kneeling down. "You're finally back! The Emperor has already sent people to inquire three times!"
Emperor Chongzhen summoned him? Wei Zhongxian's eyes lit up; this was exactly what he wanted!
He straightened his clothes and a confident smile appeared on his lips: "What's the rush? Go and fetch our family's treasured jade unicorn."
The young eunuch was taken aback: "Sir, the Emperor summons you..."
"Go when I tell you to!" Wei Zhongxian flicked his whisk, his eyes gleaming.
Walking towards the Qianqing Palace, Wei Zhongxian touched the manual in his robes, feeling reassured. The palace maids and eunuchs along the way, seeing him return, all knelt and bowed, their eyes filled with awe. Wei Zhongxian stood tall and straight, his steps steady, showing no trace of the weeping and wailing he had displayed in Songyang County.
"Eunuch Wei has arrived!"
As the eunuch announced his arrival, Wei Zhongxian took a deep breath and stepped into the hall. He saw Emperor Chongzhen standing with his back to him before his desk, his bright yellow dragon robe appearing particularly dazzling in the candlelight.
Emperor Chongzhen took a deep breath and slowly turned around. Now was not the time.
But Wei Zhongxian couldn't wait any longer. He slid to his knees on the cold, gold-brick floor of the Qianqing Palace, his forehead pressed against the ground. He took a deep breath, his voice trembling yet unusually clear:
"Your Majesty, please understand! This old servant is willing to offer all his possessions as military funds..." His voice suddenly choked with emotion, echoing in the quiet hall, "I only beg... I only beg Your Majesty to grant this old servant a... a chance to atone for his sins with his life..."
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Author's Note: [Milk Tea][Milk Tea][Milk Tea] Please add me to your favorites!
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