As a new official, Jiang Yushu is curious and nervous about meeting her two colleagues.
After breakfast, the housekeeper of the Guo residence urged the servant to harness the carriage and wait at the gate of the courtyard.
The imperial edict is as heavy as a mountain. Once it is issued, the mother-in-law will not tolerate any objection.
In the main hall, Wang sat at the head of the table, squinting her eyes as she scrutinized her second daughter-in-law's attire. After a moment, she nodded and sighed, then sternly instructed, "The Imperial Edict cannot be disobeyed. Since the Emperor has assigned you an official position, you can't just sit at home and procrastinate. You have to report for duty. Act accordingly. If you can, lend a hand. If you can't, speak frankly. Don't be overly aggressive. I don't think the other officials will be so rude as to make things difficult for their female colleagues."
Jiang Yushu stood below, bare-faced and wearing only a few pieces of jewelry. She appeared simple and capable. She nodded as she listened, finally smiling faintly, "Old Madam's advice is correct; it aligns perfectly with what I've been thinking. Indeed, only those who understand can help. If I truly don't understand, I can only refuse to avoid delaying official business."
"That's right. Don't take on too much when you're not sure." Wang was very worried, fearing that her second daughter-in-law would cause trouble for the family. She said earnestly, "In short, it's best for you to take on fewer errands. Official duties are handled by other officials. I don't think they would make things difficult for a woman."
Are you taking advantage of being a woman to be lazy and slack off?
Jiang Yushu disagreed deeply, but adhering to the idea that "less trouble is better between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law", she replied submissively, "I guess so."
"Hey." Wang Qiaozhen leaned on the low couch by the window, hiding her jealousy and asked with a smile, "Strange, since you have been granted an official title, why haven't you been given official uniforms yet?"
Jiang Yushu lowered her head and glanced at her clothes, unconcerned. She replied calmly, "There's only one female official in the court, and I guess there's no matching official uniform. Maybe they're rushing to make it, or maybe they don't. Actually, I feel more comfortable wearing my own clothes."
"Haha, that's right." Wang Qiaozhen curled her lips, but the smile did not reach her eyes.
Wang looked at the sky and sighed, "Go ahead. Even though no one's showing up, it's not appropriate to keep your colleagues waiting. We don't ask for achievements, just stability. We don't ask for merit, but we ask for no mistakes. Do you understand?"
"I understand." Jiang Yushu knew her mother-in-law's concerns very well and said softly, "Well, I'll go to the county government office and pay my respects to you as soon as I get back."
"Hmm." Wang waved her hand.
Wang Qiaozhen slowly advised the sisters-in-law: "Be careful when you go out, and go home early."
"Hey." Jiang Yushu nodded, turned and walked out of the main hall, followed by two maids assigned by her mother-in-law to wait on her out. One of the maids was holding a school bag in her hand.
The sun rises and the sky is bright.
This was the first time she went out to do something since her child was born. Although it was only to the county government office and she would be home in the evening, as a new mother, she was indescribably worried and reluctant to leave. She couldn't help but go back to her room to hug the child before hurriedly walking towards the courtyard gate.
After walking a few steps, a voice suddenly called out from the open door of the west wing: "Aunt?"
Jiang Yushu stopped and turned her head, "Hmm?"
Guo Yu peeked out and found no one at the main door, so he dared to sneak out of the study and pleaded, "My kite was scratched by a branch. I can't play with it anymore. Auntie, can you, can you... buy me a new one?"
"Yu'er?" A voice called from the study. Guo Hongxuan appeared and said sternly, "You've only written half a page, and you're slacking off again!"
Guo Hongzhe also walked out, scroll in hand, and said with concern, "Second sister-in-law has taken over. If there is anything that my fourth brother and I can help with from now on, please let me know."
"Yes, just tell me!" If his mother hadn't stopped him, Guo Hongxuan would have been very happy to put down the sage books, escort his second sister-in-law to the county government office, and get some fresh air.
Jiang Yushu smiled and answered briskly, "If I need your help, would I be polite? I'm sure I won't be shy. I'm just afraid you'll find it troublesome."
"How is that possible? Oh, I've been stuck in the study all day. I can't wait to go out and get some fresh air." Guo Hongxuan raised his sleeve to cover his mouth and yawned.
Guo Hongzhe said solemnly: "Don't worry, sister-in-law, my fourth brother and I will never find it troublesome."
Jiang Yushu said quickly, "I was just joking. Of course I know you two won't mind!" After she finished speaking, she bent down and told her nephew, "Listen carefully to your uncles, third and fourth uncles, and practice calligraphy seriously. Only by studying hard can you have a new kite."
"I will definitely study hard!" Guo Yu nodded vigorously. "Butterfly kite, okay?"
Jiang Yushu straightened up and said, "Of course I can, but..."
"Work hard!" The little fat boy was smart and answered obediently: "Yu'er will study calligraphy carefully."
Jiang Yushu nodded happily, "Very good, then hurry back to the study. Ah Zhe, Brother Xuan, I won't disturb you from studying."
"Second sister-in-law, be careful."
Jiang Yushu waved goodbye, walked out quickly and got on the carriage.
Half an hour later, the Guo family's carriage stopped outside the county government office gate. The driver pulled the reins and shouted, "Whoa!"
"Second Madam, we're here." The maid got out of the carriage first and respectfully supported her. "Please go slowly."
Jiang Yushu walked briskly up the stairs. She was familiar with the place and knew most of the people in the yamen. Even if they didn't know her, they would recognize her. Because she had sent a servant to greet them beforehand, there was no need to announce anything. She walked straight through the main gate, passed through the lobby, entered the second gate, and headed towards the grain hall in the second hall.
There was no court hearing today. As soon as I stepped through the second gate, it was quiet. The clerks from the six departments were all busy, and I frequently encountered clerks and bookkeepers running around with official documents.
When they reached the granary, they ran into Pei Wenfeng and his group.
"Shu, cousin?" Pei Wenfeng paused, and his companions greeted him one after another, some calling her "Mrs. Guo" and some "Lord Jiang".
Jiang Yushu answered each question one by one. Seeing her cousin raise his hand to invite her, she followed him to the side and asked quietly, "What's the matter?"
The cousins stood face to face, three feet apart. Pei Wenfeng, his official robes straight, hands behind his back, asked instead of answering, "Have you... recovered?"
"Yes, I've recovered." Jiang Yushu calmed down and asked in surprise, "Master Pan has already gone to Yongzhou to take up his post. Why is my cousin still staying in Heqin?"
"Are you trying to get me out?" Pei Wenfeng looked at him with a complicated expression.
Jiang Yushu hurriedly shook her head, "Where? I'm just curious."
"Just curious? You have no concern at all?" Pei Wenfeng frowned unhappily.
Jiang Yushu was startled, subconsciously glancing at the people around her, and replied sternly, "We're relatives, how can I not care? You haven't taken up your post yet, has something happened?"
"I'm different from Lord Pan." Pei Wenfeng calmed down a bit and explained, "He was originally a county magistrate and worked with the former county magistrate, Lord Liu, for many years. Before his promotion, he just gave the most important instructions and left without worry. Lord Liu would take over everything. I have several cases on hand that have not yet been decided. I don't have anyone to take over, so I can only go to Yongzhou after the cases are concluded."
Jiang Yushu suddenly realized, "Oh, that's how it is!"
"Sister Shu, I have good news for you." Pei Wenfeng smiled suddenly, looking elegant and graceful, like a graceful jade tree in the wind.
"Tell me about it."
Pei Wenfeng heaved a long sigh, feeling relieved, and whispered, "I received a letter from home a few days ago. It said that your stepmother was not happy with my being far away at the frontier, and she took the initiative to cancel the engagement."
Jiang Yushu was shocked and gasped, "Cancel the engagement? Really?"
"certainly!"
Pei Wenfeng sighed deeply, lamenting helplessly, "If nothing else, I only feel guilty for having failed my uncle's kindness. I had been so eager to become his father-in-law and his son-in-law, but who knew things would turn out so awfully unpredictable—if I can't be the eldest son-in-law, I'll have to be the second son-in-law instead? That's a bit absurd."
"Well, that's ridiculous." Jiang Yushu sympathized with him and was genuinely happy for him. She whispered, "Congratulations, cousin, you've gotten rid of a troublesome matter. Since you and Yushan aren't suitable, you should break it off and find new partners. It will be better for both of you."
Pei Wenfeng's eyes were deep and he asked calmly, "What's good about that? It will never be good again in this life. Just live your happy life, why should I bother you?"
Jiang Yushu was choked. Unable to gauge the other party's mood, she apologized awkwardly, "I'm sorry, I spoke too much. Please don't blame me, cousin."
"...Who blames you?" Pei Wenfeng hesitated to speak, frowned, and said with his head held high: "Forget it. I'm in a hurry to try the case, you go ahead and do your thing, we'll talk later." After that, he looked as usual, strode towards the lobby with his head held high, and his followers followed and surrounded him.
Jiang Yushu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, turned around, and led two maids to the granary.
The granary was located high up, so they didn't notice that Wei Xu and his servant were looking down from the potted plants behind the railing above.
"Sir, look here." The servant's eyes widened, fixed on the subject, and he whispered excitedly:
"Look, look, Special Envoy Jiang is coming!"
"Here it comes, closer and closer!"
Wei Xu frowned, glared at him and scolded, "You're so jumpy! Haven't you ever seen a woman before? You're embarrassing yourself!"
The servant smiled awkwardly, "It's not that I've never seen a woman before, but I've never seen a female official before. It turns out that Envoy Jiang is not 'dark and stout' at all! She is tall, fair, and has an outstanding appearance——"
Wei Xu elbowed the servant and, while frowning at his female colleague down the slope, whispered, "Shut up! Let's go! She's coming up."
"Yes." The servant shrank his neck, and the master and servant quickly retreated.
After a while
Jiang Yushu rushed to the side hall door, stopped to catch her breath, and just as she raised her foot, she saw a middle-aged man walk out of the hall. He was a little fat and had no beard. He asked kindly:
"Madam, are you Special Envoy Jiang?"
Jiang Yushu looked at him intently, thought for a moment, and nodded, "Are you Lord Liang? I'm late and I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Liang Zuopu nodded with a smile and raised his hand, saying, "No problem, come in and sit down. We live in the back hall, so naturally we'll be here earlier than you. Where's Captain Guo? I'm so sorry we couldn't have a good chat last time."
"Honglei has returned to the camp. He will come to visit you next time he has time to visit his family." Jiang Yushu walked into the hall, followed by a maid. She looked up and saw a young man in a brocade robe sitting upright. She was stunned for a moment, thinking:
Who is he? Common sense suggests he should be the deputy envoy of Xipingcang. If he is, his posture is quite disrespectful.
Liang Zuo Pu was cheerful and introduced her nonchalantly, "Brother Wei, she is Special Envoy Jiang."
"Ah? Oh!" Wei Xu seemed to come back to his senses, put down his teacup, stood up, and said with a smile, "I've heard a lot about you. Nice to meet you."
It was their first meeting, and there was no grudge. Jiang Yushu guessed that he had just been distracted and replied politely, "I don't deserve it. I'm really sorry I'm late and kept you waiting."
"No problem. Please take a seat, both of you." Wei Xu was tall and thin, with a long face and a burn scar the size of a fingertip on his right ear.
"please."
The three of them sat down, each accompanied by servants who promptly served them tea.
Wei Xu was face to face with Jiang Yushu. He tried his best to restrain himself, but he couldn't help but glance at his dignified and elegant female colleague again and again. His original resentment was inexplicably mixed with tension and annoyance. His mind was racing, his fighting spirit was high, and he thought to himself:
How can a man be defeated by a weak woman? Humph, today, no matter what, I must make her realize how powerful I am! I'll prevent her from meddling in government affairs, hindering our grain storage efforts, and affecting my future.
The author has something to say:
Jiang Yushu: ... [nothing to say, rolls up her sleeves]
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