"Prefect Ma, think it through before you speak." This time, Yuan Yun didn't let Ma Tiezhou get up.
"I'm almost at the end of my life. I never lied when I was young, and I'm even less likely to talk nonsense now that I'm old," Ma Tiezhou said sincerely. "I know about Zhu Shan's situation. It's my fault. I spoiled her. She's still young. If anyone should be punished, it's me!"
"You know all this?" Yuan Yun asked doubtfully.
Ma Tiezhou nodded and said, "Her adultery is because... I'm getting old. She bribed officials to help her family. As for the embezzlement and misappropriation of treasury funds that Your Highness mentioned, let's be frank, these are not true. It's just that she's too spoiled, impulsive, and doesn't distinguish between public and private matters, which has caused some trouble. But as long as we help her clarify things one by one, these two charges are unfounded."
“Your Highness… I know you haven’t revealed her adultery, which is a sign of your mercy. So as long as I don’t pursue the matter, it can be suppressed. As for the officials who bribed her, let the Six Ministries of the Eastern Capital handle it; it can be a minor or major offense. As long as the charges of embezzlement and misappropriation of treasury funds are not established, Zhu Shan… she doesn’t deserve to die!”
Yuan Yun's face darkened, and she asked, "She committed adultery, and you can tolerate that?"
Ma Tiezhou nodded heavily.
Snap!
Ma Tiezhou could tolerate it, but Yuan Yun could not tolerate it any longer and slammed her hand on the table.
Ma Tiezhou lay prostrate on the ground, panting, and said, "Your Highness, please calm down."
Yuan Yun closed her eyes and slowly said, "Ma Tiezhou, you came from a humble background and started as a minor official. You worked diligently and conscientiously, and later served as a registrar, a merit officer, and a city garrison commander. Your official position was never high, but the late emperor noticed you. Why? Because you were a model official among the officials of the Great Jing Dynasty!"
"During your tenure as the garrison commander of Jiangcheng in Jiangyang Commandery, pirates ran rampant, frequently landing on land to plunder the people, causing great distress to the people and officials in the eastern part of Jiangyang Commandery. At that time, the pirates were powerful and could not be defeated repeatedly, and they even organized a large-scale attack to invade Jiangyang Commandery. Under pressure from the pirates and the imperial court, the governor of Jiangyang Commandery and the prefect of Jiangcheng led the entire commandery's troops to quell the rebellion. At this time, the Southern Zhou took the opportunity to march north, advancing with unstoppable momentum, and their army arrived at the gates of Jiangcheng!"
"The prefect was absent, the city governor was absent, and most of the officials in Jiangcheng had fled. Everyone thought Jiangcheng was doomed. Who was the first to step forward? It was you! With Jiangcheng's military forces depleted, it was you, Ma Tiezhou, who went door-to-door encouraging the people, working tirelessly to devise a defense plan, and issuing every order meticulously. In the end, even the elderly and women of Jiangcheng took up arms, and the entire nation became soldiers!"
"It was your passion that inspired the entire city's people, leading them to resist the Southern Zhou's attack until reinforcements arrived. It was you who took on this critical mission and preserved peace in Jiangyang County!"
"Have you forgotten? When the late emperor promoted you to Prefect of Jiangyang County, he said that you, Ma Tiezhou, are a model official of the Great Jing Dynasty!"
Snap!
Yuan Yun slammed her hand on the table again and shouted angrily, "Ma Tiezhou, are you still the same passionate city garrison commander you used to be?!"
Upon hearing this, Ma Tiezhou suddenly looked up, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
It was as if the glorious years of yesteryear were flowing before my eyes.
War raged, smoke billowed.
The people cheered.
But soon, the light vanished, leaving only turbidity.
Ma Tiezhou sighed, "Even the most passionate person will eventually grow old..."
Yuan Yun fell silent, then sighed, "It's precisely because you are this kind of person that I treat you like a national hero. Why? Zhu Shan has treated you like this, why are you protecting her like this?"
Ma Tiezhou slowly opened his mouth, and Yuan Yun noticed that he had almost lost all his teeth, which made her feel a pang of sadness.
"After I became the Prefect of Jiangyang, the people remembered my kindness in protecting Jiangcheng and were very supportive of my work. They even worshipped me, and some only knew of the Prefect and not the Governor. I felt this was inappropriate, so I submitted my resignation to the court, but the late Emperor refused. After the current Emperor assumed power, seeing how popular I was in Jiangyang, he transferred me to Yanchuan City to retire..."
Yuan Yun remained silent; Ma Tiezhou was right about this.
Yuan Xiu once remarked that Ma Tiezhou was practically the local tyrant of Jiangyang County...
"The emperor wants me to retire, so I'll retire. Anyway, all six ministries are in place in Yanchuan City, and I don't have much to do. My wife was still alive then."
Yuan Yun knew that the "wife" Ma Tiezhou was referring to was his first wife.
"My wife married me before I even became a minor official. We had a deep love for each other, and even though we couldn't have children, I never took a concubine. But that year, she was homesick and, coupled with her frail health, she passed away before me. Without my wife, I felt like a lost soul, and I even considered following her in death. But not long after, I met Zhu Shan..."
“Your Highness, you can still see me now because of Zhu Shan. She gave me hope to live. She is my benefactor. How can I abandon her?”
Yuan Yun understood. Ma Tiezhou had transferred his affections to Zhu Shan, showing all his longing and love for his deceased wife.
Yuan Yun calmly said, "Didn't you consider that even if I let her go this time, she might still do something to betray you?"
“Your Highness, you can call me stupid or laugh at me for being a coward, but I really don’t care about her situation. I am, after all, an old man who will pass away before her. She has a long life ahead of her and needs to live her own life.”
Yuan Yun took a deep breath, not wanting to continue.
Few things could affect her mood, but this morning, she didn't even have an appetite for breakfast.
"Get up and talk," Yuan Yun winked at Heng Wenhao.
After Heng Wenhao helped Ma Tiezhou sit down, Yuan Yun tapped the table and said, "Eat something."
“Yes…” Ma Tiezhou no longer hesitated and began to eat.
After Ma Tiezhou had taken a few bites, Yuan Yun asked, "What do you want me to do?"
"This humble servant dares not. This humble servant only wishes to resign and return to his hometown, and hopes that Your Highness can spare Zhu Shan's life."
Yuan Yun narrowed her eyes, knowing that this was an exchange.
After all, it was a secondary capital, and the position of Prefect of Yanchuan City could be very important or not, depending on the ability of the person in charge.
Those who don't perform well, or don't want to do the work, like Ma Tiezhou, are essentially in a sinecure.
However, those who are ambitious and capable can sideline the Six Ministries of the Eastern Capital.
By giving up his spot, Ma Tiezhou essentially gave it to Yuan Yun.
“I respect you, and I also want to thank you on behalf of the late emperor and the people of Jiangcheng. So I promise you, consider this a reward from the court for your hard work throughout your life. But you must remember two things.”
"Please enlighten me, Your Highness."
"My first point is to remind you that I am very worried that if you lose the position of prefect, Zhu Shan may leave you."
"I understand, this is my own choice, and I will never blame her no matter what."
"Secondly, tell Zhu Shan to keep her mouth shut. I'll have people watching her. If she says anything out of line, I'll kill her, and then you won't be able to protect her."
"I understand."
Yuan Yun stood up, walked to the pavilion, looked at the fish in the lake, and said, "Do you have someone in mind who will succeed you?"
Ma Tiezhou stood up with Yuan Yun, thought for a moment, and said, "Li Dai."
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