Oh no, the traitor is coming!
As the saying goes, "Don't talk about people during the day, or they will appear."
The moment Wei Xu fell off the chair, he felt anxious and guilty, his scalp tingling. He blurted out, "Why did you come here so suddenly? Did you see anything - the stone?"
"Shitou? I just arrived and didn't see your servant." Jiang Yushu paused, dazed, and looked at her panicked colleague. She asked in confusion, "Master Wei, are you not injured? You're so flustered, what happened?"
"Who, who is panicking?"
"Oh, you suddenly walked in and talked, which scared me and made me fall down." Wei Xu got up quickly and returned to the desk in a hurry. Without even looking at the other person, he grabbed the brush and dipped it in ink, and painted quickly, turning the beauty he secretly painted into an ink ball.
In a blink of an eye, the painting was destroyed, but he was still worried. He crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it into the spittoon. He watched the paper ball get soaked by water and the ink spread before he breathed a sigh of relief.
Jiang Yushu believed it and walked straight to her desk, apologetically saying, "Did I scare you? Sorry. I heard something went wrong at home and rushed over in a hurry, so I didn't even bother to knock on the door."
Wei Xu forced himself to remain calm and said seriously, "Well, yes, something went wrong!"
"Not long ago, we lent three million kilograms of grain seeds to Yongzhou. When Lord Shen found out, he was very dissatisfied. He summoned me this morning and didn't want to listen to my explanation. He just berated me—Huh?" He paused in surprise, examined the other party's right palm, and asked:
"What happened to your right hand? Is it injured?"
Jiang Yushu sat down, tidied the table with one hand, and answered vaguely: "Just like you, I accidentally fell."
"What a coincidence. It looks like it's bleeding. Is the injury serious?" Wei Xu frowned with concern.
Jiang Yushu shook her head and said, "It's just a flesh wound. It will heal after a while." In fact, Jiang Yushan stabbed her hard at that time, and the sharp scissors pierced her right palm through, but fortunately, no bones were broken.
"So, you took leave because you were injured?"
"Um."
Wei Xu suddenly realized what was going on. He felt a surge of guilt and regret, thinking to himself: So she was injured, not hiding at home to shirk responsibility. I shouldn't have kept calling her a "traitor" just now... Thinking of this, he involuntarily walked closer and cleared his throat, "You can't use one hand, why didn't you bring someone to help you?"
"I brought it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cuimei and Shitou walked into the hall one after another, carrying a pot of boiling water, rolled up their sleeves slightly, and made tea quickly.
Wei Xu still felt inexplicably guilty, and to cover it up, he shouted unhappily, "Shi Tou! Where have you been? You haven't been seen for a long time!"
"I followed the Master's instructions and went to gather information." Shitou was puzzled and reported in a low voice: "Master Shen took a nap and left the back hall a quarter of an hour ago. He should be in the meeting room now."
Not far away, Jiang Yushu heard it, frowned, and whispered a warning: "Shi Tou is so bold that he dared to spy on the whereabouts of the imperial envoy. Be careful that he will be caught and interrogated by the guards."
"No, no! I didn't 'spy', but I was standing on a high place and 'saw' it openly." Shitou shrank his neck, smiled apologetically, picked up the tea brewed by Cuimei, and served it to him attentively.
Jiang Yushu nodded to express her gratitude. Wei Xu took the tea and was about to speak, but his stomach gurgled twice, and his face immediately turned red with embarrassment!
"My young master has been busy all day," Shitou knew his young master's character very well. Without waiting for anyone to ask, he rushed to inform him, "He didn't even have time for lunch!"
Jiang Yushu was stunned. "Oh, it's my fault. I happened to take a leave today. Thank you for your hard work, Lord Wei. I wonder when Imperial Envoy Shen has arranged to meet? If you can make it, you should eat something to fill your stomach so that you have the energy to work."
"It's the afternoon." Wei Xu was proud and arrogant by nature, and his face turned slightly red.
Jiang Yushu then ordered, "Don't worry, there's still half an hour left. Shitou, go get your young master something to eat."
"Yes!" The servant took the order and left in a flash.
Wei Xu hesitated to speak, but finally acquiesced. He watched the servant go away and thought to himself: Whose servant are you? Why do you listen to her so much?
After Cuimei made tea, she began to tidy up the desk as usual, and then wiped the table. This took her no more than two quarters of an hour. For the rest of the time, she sat beside him, reading and studying hard - because Jiang Yushu had promised that if she could read and write and could do some simple account keeping, she would promote her to be the housekeeper.
But today, she had no interest in studying. She asked worriedly, "Those three million kilograms of potatoes have all been shipped to Yongzhou and are about to be planted in the summer. If the imperial envoy were to question us now and order them back, what would we do?"
Jiang Yushu took out the key and Cuimei unlocked the door. She opened the drawer and rummaged through it, pulling out an IOU. "Borrowed grain is like spilled water; it's impossible to get it back."
"Hmph, with the shrewd nature of Ji Zhifu of Yongzhou, he will never return the grain stored in the warehouse!" Wei Xu calmed himself down, returned to his desk and sat down.
Jiang Yushu was exhausted from her toil last night. She drank some strong tea to refresh herself and asked seriously, "What did Lord Shen ask when we met this morning? What was he most dissatisfied with?"
"well!"
"Don't mention it!" Wei Xu was immediately furious. Since they knew each other well, he lowered his voice and spoke bluntly, "I had just stood firm when Lord Shen asked, 'Did Xiping Warehouse lend three million kilograms of grain to Yongzhou?' I answered 'yes,' and after a few words of explanation, his face changed, and he scolded me harshly for a full two cups of tea! He mainly warned me that 'food is the most important military reserve, and military rations should be used exclusively for soldiers guarding the border, not loaned to local officials,' and so on. He also repeatedly urged young people to 'use their brains when encountering problems.'"
Repeatedly urging young people to use their brains? Oh, I guess it's the high-ranking officials at the court who are putting pressure on and looking down on the new minor officials...
Jiang Yushu listened carefully and nodded slowly, "I understand. I wasn't there this morning, so Lord Wei took on all the responsibility. I'm sorry for putting you in such a difficult position."
Wei Xu's composure subsided in an instant. He waved his hand magnanimously, saying nonchalantly, "It's alright. I don't feel wronged. He's a high-ranking official, an imperial envoy. We're of lower rank, so we can only bear it. What do you think we should do later?"
Jiang Yushu examined the IOU, lowered her head in thought, and replied casually, "We'll see what happens."
"ah?"
Jiang Yushu comforted him, "Don't panic, we haven't violated any laws. I will explain everything to Lord Shen when the time comes!"
So, the group calculated the time, and the followers waited outside the door, and the two men asked for a meeting on time.
In the hall
One of the imperial envoys, Shen Tianheng, currently a deputy minister of the Ministry of Revenue, sat at the head of the table. He was over forty years old, not fat, but had a large belly due to his love of wine.
Lord Shen is such a heavy drinker! I almost got drunk at the welcoming banquet... Jiang Yushu recalled what her husband had said and saluted with Wei Xu, "Your humble servant greets Lord Shen."
"Are you Guo Jiang?"
"Yes." Jiang Yushu was stunned, pondering the other party's tone, and immediately felt like a prisoner on trial. She thought to herself: No wonder Lord Wei is so angry. With his temper, he probably can't swallow this feeling of grievance.
Shen Tianheng looked solemn, with deep wrinkles on his face, the corners of his mouth slightly drooping, and a majestic aura. "Sit down."
"Thank you, sir." Jiang Yushu and Wei Xu sat down side by side.
Shen Tianheng glanced around a few times, “Special Envoy Jiang, what’s wrong with your hand?”
Jiang Yushu stood up and replied, "I was accidentally injured, so I took half a day off. I was unable to visit you earlier. I am very sorry and hope you will forgive me."
"As long as it doesn't delay official business, I won't blame you."
Shen Tianheng's face was stern and his tone was hard. He raised his hand to signal the other party to sit down and asked directly: "I just heard this morning that Xiping Warehouse lent 3 million kilograms of grain seeds to Yongzhou. Is this true?"
"It is true."
"Whose idea was it?" Shen Tianheng frowned.
He's starting to frown! Are you going to scold me again? Hadn't I scolded him enough this morning? Wei Xu's heart skipped a beat, and he felt uneasy, aggrieved, and helpless.
Jiang Yushu stood up again, her heart calm, and she asked confusedly: "Isn't this what the court wants?"
"What?" Shen Tianheng raised one thick eyebrow and asked loudly, "When did the court order you to borrow grain?"
Jiang Yushu replied calmly, "I and the others were also puzzled at the time, but after careful inquiry, we found out that what Ji Zhifu of Yongzhou said was true. Yongzhou was in need of reconstruction, and Zhifu Ji petitioned the court for relief, grain allocation, and so on. The court asked him to consult with Xiping Warehouse, so—"
"Confused, confused!"
Shen Tianheng shook his head repeatedly and interrupted before he finished listening, feeling very disappointed. "The military warehouse is set up for military storage, only for storing grain. The local area is short of grain, so you don't have to worry about it at all, let alone borrow it! The court didn't issue any orders, just ordered to 'discuss it', and you actually borrowed it so readily? And you borrowed 3 million catties at once?"
Is he implying that we're stupid? He hasn't considered that he's the prefect, and we're just minor clerks, and it's not easy to be an official. Wei Xu listened to the interrogator's tone, feeling not only harsh but also indignant. His colleagues stood, so he could only stand up and swallow his anger.
Jiang Yushu, with an air of profound respect, revealed, "Actually, Magistrate Ji requested five million catties. We felt that was too much, so we only agreed to lend three million catties. We also formally signed an IOU, stipulating repayment within two years, including principal and interest. The IOU is stamped with both the official and private seals of the Magistrate. Please review it, Your Excellency."
The guard took it and presented it. Shen Tianheng looked at it and asked, "IOU? With principal and interest? Are you treating the military warehouse as a money house?"
"I dare not." Jiang Yushu just shook her head when she heard her superior slam the table:
A "pop" sound scared her, and Wei Xu gritted his teeth and poked the ground.
"Confused, confused!"
Shen Tianheng's face darkened, and he spoke rapidly, demanding righteously, "If the enemy suddenly invades our border, the rule has always been 'food and fodder must go before troops move'. If you can't provide food and delay military intelligence, you will lose your head. Do you understand?"
Wei Xu, young and full of energy, couldn't help but say, "Please calm down, sir. I understand what you mean. However, Xiping Granary was only established at the beginning of the year. Not only is there no storage facility, but even the warehouses are not yet complete. Currently, Xicang has only delivered one season's worth of grain. For the time being, we simply can't supply military rations. Furthermore, Magistrate Ji is indeed acting on orders from the imperial court, and he has legitimate reasons to seek help from Xiping Granary. How dare we ignore him?"
"Oh?" Shen Tianheng frowned, staring at Wei Xu, his face gradually darkening.
Before her superiors could get angry, Jiang Yushu quickly chimed in, respectfully saying, "Thank you, sir, for your reminder! Alas, I was new to the government back then, and considering the warehouses weren't built yet and potatoes don't store well, I didn't think things through properly and hastily lent out the stored grain. Only after reflection did I realize my mistake, but it's too late to regret. This experience has taught me a lesson. From now on, I will be extremely cautious and do my best to live up to your earnest guidance."
"snort."
Shen Tianheng's expression softened slightly, "If it weren't for the fact that you two are both new to the officialdom and lack experience, this matter would never be easily revealed!"
Jiang Yushu immediately bowed and thanked him gratefully: "Thank you for your tolerance, sir."
"It's too early to thank you now." Shen Tianheng kept a serious face and didn't smile. "If we can't get those three million kilograms of grain back, you will be to blame."
Jiang Yushu was confident and reported respectfully, "I and others have made a special trip to Yongzhou to inquire about the situation. If there are no major accidents, we should be able to repay the debt on time."
"Don't worry, based on the potato yield, we can at least harvest three million kilograms of grain seeds—" Wei Xu hesitated and calculated.
Jiang Yushu was afraid that her colleagues would estimate the harvest in the direction of a bumper harvest, so she decisively lowered the estimate and said, "About 20 million catties, which shouldn't be a problem."
Wei Xu's thoughts turned, and he nodded in agreement, "Yes!"
Shen Tianheng picked up the IOU, read it again, and admonished him earnestly, "If you hadn't lent it out in the first place, why would you worry about it now? Alas, you young people, you are not prudent enough in your actions."
Jiang Yushu listened respectfully, and Wei Xu endured silently, not daring to refute a single word.
Afterwards, Shen Tianheng checked a few more places, scolded and taught, drank a cup of tea to moisten his throat when his mouth was dry, and continued to question until the evening.
As the sun sets
Wei Xu was so angry that he lost his temper. He looked around and said with a wry smile, "Alas, Master Shen is tireless in teaching people. He doesn't even get tired after talking for an entire afternoon. I admire you!"
Normally, Jiang Yushu would have found it funny, but today she was exhausted. After a brief conversation, she said, "This matter is over. We'll discuss official business tomorrow. I have to go visit my father."
"Okay! Go ahead, see you tomorrow." Wei Xu was happy after solving the problem.
Soon, Hou Ya
"In public, Old Shen is known for his ruthlessness. He reprimands anyone he catches. Just explain the situation clearly and it's fine. A few reprimands are just a few words. Don't take it personally." Jiang Shisen taught him, "Not everyone in the officialdom is smooth-talking. There are a few like 'Shen Tianheng' who have quick tempers and speak their mind."
Jiang Yushu nodded and replied, "My daughter will remember it."
"Cough, cough, cough."
"Sir, it's time to take the medicine." The servant brought the medicine.
Jiang Yushu, unable to use one hand, advised, "Father, take your medicine. We'll leave for Yongzhou the day after tomorrow morning. You'll be busy with official duties, so you must take good care of yourself."
"Well, don't worry, I can hold on." Jiang Shisen couldn't stop coughing, feeling sad and depressed. After drinking the medicine, he forced himself to cheer up and asked with concern: "How is the child? Is he feeling better?"
Jiang Yushu was haggard and grief-stricken, even exhausted. She answered anxiously, "Ye'er is too young, and he only has so much blood. He injured his left arm and lost too much blood. He suddenly became weak and didn't even have the strength to turn over. He just lay there, crying in shock."
"well."
"What a devil! Yushan is simply, simply a devil!" Jiang Shisen's eyes were filled with tears. He slammed the table and suddenly had a violent coughing fit. He couldn't straighten his back. The servants hurried over to take care of him.
The situation was chaotic, and Jiang Yushu could only comfort him, saying, "Things have come to this point, and life must go on. You are the pillar of the family, so you must be more positive and avoid being overly sad."
"The eldest lady is right. You just took the medicine. It's not appropriate to get excited or sad."
"The mansion is still waiting for you to go back and take charge of the situation." The servants advised in unison.
"My grandson has been wronged. As a father, I understand this and will do my best to make it up to him!"
Jiang Yushu sighed, "Father, there's no need to do this. I don't ask for anything except for my child's safety."
After greeting each other, Jiang Shisen took the initiative to urge: "It's getting late, you should go home and take good care of the children."
"I'll come to see you tomorrow." Jiang Yushu's heart had already flown back home.
As dusk fell, the master and his two servants left the yamen and hurried back to Guangchang Lane.
Jiang Yushu walked through the gate quickly and walked towards the main house. However, before she stepped into the courtyard, she saw two servants running towards her and they almost collided with each other.
"Hey, why are you running?" Zou Gui hurriedly stopped them. Cui Mei reminded them, "You almost bumped into the Madam!"
"I deserve to die. Please don't blame me, Madam." The servant bowed and made way.
Jiang Yushu had a bad feeling. "Why are you so flustered?"
The two servants looked at each other, hesitated for a moment, and replied vaguely, "We are following the Second Young Master's orders to rush out and fetch the doctor."
Jiang Yushu held her breath. "Who are you inviting? Isn't there Doctor Fang in the mansion?"
"Little Master."
"The young master has a fever and won't take medicine. Doctor Fang is at a loss and can only ask other doctors to try. So - Madam?"
Jiang Yushu was extremely anxious. Without waiting for the servant to finish speaking, she rushed to see the child and ordered without even turning back, "Then go get a doctor! Call all the famous doctors in the city!"
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