Chapter 67 God bless Dayong, God bless the Emperor...
Song Huan obviously understood. "Aunt, these people didn't have this attitude the last time I came here."
Zhou Miao's face also grimaced. "Sister Huan said some small businesses were looking forward to our visit last time. These days, Dayong's porcelain is basically all bought by the big businesses. If we can open up the market, it'll be a way for small businesses to make money. Even a small amount is still money."
"It seems like now that things are clear and the money is in sight, some people are unhappy." Zhao Changning smiled. "Then let's slow down. We haven't had a good rest since we came here. Look at you, you've all lost weight."
She knew there would be problems and had thought about discussing and resolving them, but she didn't expect him to be so open and not even let her see him in person.
Before coming, Mingxuan had already reminded her that the local area was different from Yujing, and the local officials were also different from the officials in the capital. The imperial power did not extend below the county level, and the obstacles she would encounter would be the most difficult and tiring, and could not be solved by simply saying "obeying the emperor's order."
Now that I'm here, there are indeed obstacles in front of me and pursuers behind me.
It seems that the seniors have more experience.
No one was very happy, but Yunsheng was the happiest. During the journey, his aunt had stomachache several times and no matter how he tried to persuade her, it wouldn't stop.
I bought a lot of stomach-nourishing vegetables overnight to feed my aunt.
Zhao Changning also changed his previous impetuous behavior and stayed in the post house, reading and practicing calligraphy every day. He quietly sent a letter to the emperor urging him to pay the debt, and also sent a letter to Grandma Xu to let her know that he was safe, which also gave a general account of the situation here.
Song Huan and Zhou Miao also followed quietly, and even found a new way to have fun, which was to go to the homes of ordinary people to weave cloth for fun.
The two female officials were very nervous when they received orders to leave the palace for the first time. They were used to following orders and could not sit idle, so they wandered around the post station nervously every day and occasionally went to the county government office.
But there was no good news every day. Occasionally, I heard that the county magistrate had indeed returned, but I couldn't meet him. He was either going to the countryside or investigating a case. Anyway, he was very busy.
Finally, two days after the Lantern Festival on the 15th day, there was some movement in the government office.
"Aunt, aunt, the county magistrate has shown up. Let's go and meet him." The two female officials came back happily to report.
Zhao Changning was writing, using the pen and ink given by Gao Yun. Calligraphy really helps to calm the mind. She began to understand why the emperor, in addition to the hard work of reviewing memorials every day, also had to write and paint.
"Mingqiu, Zuoyu, please sit down." Zhao Changning looked at them and said gently, "Are you feeling uncomfortable with the life after leaving the palace?"
The two female officials nodded awkwardly.
Zhao Changning smiled and said, "Once you leave the palace, many things will be different. You need to get used to it. Don't be anxious. Take your time and relax."
Mingqiu was still a little nervous. "Aunt, if we go back like this, will the emperor scold us for dereliction of duty?"
Zhao Changning said seriously, "Even if I get scolded, it's me who's being scolded. Don't worry. There's a way to be an official. You can't act like a palace maid any more. Not only will it be of no benefit, it will also make you look down upon."
She really wanted to teach, but she just wanted to promote the position of female official so that she, the female scribe, would not look out of place.
But after setting up the stall, she found that the female official was her natural ally and she had to take her with her.
Fortunately, a woman who could stand out from so many people would not be stupid. After a few days of comfort from Zhao Changning, the two of them relaxed.
Zhao Changning was safe, but someone else was feeling uneasy.
"You said she's been staying at the post station the whole time, not moving?" The magistrate stroked his beard, quite surprised. "Wasn't she running around all the time, very anxious?"
The lawyer laughed and said, "Sir, this woman claims to be a servant of the Emperor and is favored by him. Who knows how she got to that position? Would you like to meet her?"
The magistrate curled his lips and said, "Why would I see her? If I hadn't done that, people would have laughed at me. They would have thought I was being manipulated."
The lawyer leaned over and whispered, "Sir, I heard that she came here with money from the Ministry of Revenue."
The magistrate snorted coldly, "With the Ministry of Revenue's money? I think it's the emperor's money. She comes to my place to eat and drink, and also wants to make porcelain. She is directly taking orders from the emperor. Do we, the people, get a penny of that money? Do we, the county government, get a penny of it?"
The lawyer said quickly, "Regardless of whether we can get involved or not, we have to go and meet her to find out. Besides, she has the imperial edict in her hand. We can delay it for a while, but if we delay for too long, the emperor may punish us."
The magistrate frowned and thought for a moment, then tossed his sleeves and said proudly, "Then let's meet."
Unfortunately, the messenger came back to report that the female scribe was not at the post station.
The next day I went to invite him again, but he was not there again. He said he was going for a walk in the mountains to see the customs and culture of Jingdezhen.
I went to invite him the next day, but he was still not there. This time he told me what he had done specifically, which was to dig mud.
When the magistrate heard the messenger's report, he slammed the table in anger, "What is she going to do? This is the emperor's order. Is she going to kill me? Or herself?"
The lawyer was busy trying to persuade her, "Sir, she won't last for a few days, don't worry..."
At this time, Zhao Changning's hands were covered with white mud and he was shivering from the cold.
"This clay can be fired into such white and beautiful porcelain. These craftsmen are really amazing."
She couldn't help but sigh.
Song Huan also nodded. "Don't underestimate this mud. I heard from those porcelain craftsmen that this kind of soil is almost gone."
Zhao Changning said, "I also know that during the reign of the late emperor, there was a memorial submitted stating that the Macang soil on Macang Mountain was indeed almost exhausted."
They dared not conceal this matter. After all, a lot of porcelain was presented as tribute to the emperor. If the soil was gone, porcelain made of this soil would naturally not be able to be produced.
Zhou Miao's cheeks were red from the cold, and he was having a lot of fun. "Aunt, you really don't want to go see the magistrate? Isn't it bad to leave him alone like this?"
Zhao Changning laughed and said, "He can control me, but he never thought that I can control him. It's rude not to reciprocate."
Of course you have to meet him.
It's just that the Ministry of Revenue is delaying her payment, and the county magistrate is dragging his feet and refusing to see her. He knows that it can only be delayed, but he still insists on disgusting her. So why can't she delay it?
If we're going to die, let's die together.
Of course, it was just a thought. The next day, Zhao Changning brought a group of people to the county government office and finally met the county magistrate. This was completely different from meeting the prefect.
The magistrate had a small beard and a round face, and he was extremely enthusiastic. He came up and wanted to hold Zhao Changning's hand.
"Seeing is believing, Lady Scrivener. I've long heard of your brilliant intelligence and your deep favor with the Emperor. Meeting you today truly brightens my humble abode."
Zhao Changning naturally avoided the question, but he was no less enthusiastic, saying, "The magistrate has governed well, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. It is a blessing for Changning to be able to pay you a visit today, and it is a blessing for Dayong to have you as his wife."
The two of them laughed until their teeth ached. After chatting for a long time, they finally resolved the previous misunderstanding and sat down with dry mouths.
Zhao Changning drank a cup of tea and his throat finally felt much better.
She smiled and said, "Jiangxi has outstanding people and beautiful scenery. The tea here is also very delicious. The mountains and rivers are beautiful, and the government is kind. No wonder Jingde is known for producing fine porcelain, and its products are sold all over the world."
The master also smiled and said, "Nu Shuling, your Excellency has governed Jingdezhen well over the years and has made many improvements to the production of porcelain. Nu Shuling has been running around these days and should have seen some of it."
Zhao Changning sneered inwardly, but kept it to himself. "Your Excellency is not only a good administrator, but also quite knowledgeable in porcelain making. I'll definitely be asking for your advice in the future."
The magistrate stroked his beard with satisfaction and said, "Nu Shu Ling, actually, there's no need for you to come in person. As long as the emperor gives the order, the matter will be settled naturally."
The legal advisor echoed, "Yes, since the Ministry of Revenue has allocated the money, why would the female secretary go through so much trouble to come to this remote place? Isn't this just asking for trouble?"
Only then did Zhao Changning realize that they didn't even know that the money from the Ministry of Revenue had not arrived yet.
"Since it's the emperor's order, I have to do it well. Otherwise, how can I see the emperor? I'm walking in front of the emperor, and I can't hide anything. My lord, you don't know how hard I'm going..."
After listening to his aunt complaining with tears and snot, Song Huan looked at Zhou Miao and quickly turned his back, fearing that he would burst out laughing.
Seeing that the magistrate and the legal advisor had dazed expressions, Zhao Changning calmed down a little.
"... Your Excellency, the County Magistrate, this matter of opening the sea cannot afford to fail. Your head and mine hang on this matter. Before coming to Jiangxi, I promised the Emperor that I would cooperate with the County Magistrate. If we fail, both of our heads will be chopped off..."
The magistrate: “…”
The master didn't understand what he heard. "Wait, wait, wait, Nv Shu Ling, if this matter is not done well, what does it have to do with my master?"
If you're going to chop off someone, should you chop off this woman's head?
Zhao Changning frowned. "The Emperor said that whenever I come to Jingdezhen, I must seek out the County Magistrate. He is a caring official who cares for the people wholeheartedly. He understands porcelain production and knows the county's livelihood and geography. Otherwise, why would such an important county be entrusted to you? You can definitely help me..."
She blinked and looked at the magistrate and asked, "Sir, can't you help me?"
The magistrate: “…”
Zhao Changning stood up and left.
The master was startled and quickly stood up to stop her, "Nu Shu Ling, Nu Shu Ling, why are you leaving when everything is fine?"
Zhao Changning sighed, "Since Your Excellency can't help, I can't waste time. I have to write a memorial to the Emperor as soon as possible to explain the situation and find someone who can help me. This porcelain-making business cannot afford to fail..."
Her biggest backer is the emperor, how could she not use him?
The legal advisor winked at the magistrate, saying that this was the imperial female secretary, no one else, and she might even be able to influence others, so he couldn't afford to offend her.
He smiled and advised, "I can help, I can help, but my master just doesn't know how to help for the moment. I'm afraid it will ruin the emperor's plan, which would be bad."
The magistrate stroked his beard while sitting in his chair. "Yes, Nvshu Ling, I was just wondering how I could help. Why don't you let me report this to the prefect? This matter is too big, and I, a small magistrate, dare not take charge of it."
Zhao Changning knew that he wanted to delay time. Once this letter reached the prefect, it would have to be sent to the governor, and it would have to be asked to the governor. If the governor didn't want to take care of it, then it would have to be sent back to Yujing.
After going through all this, a year has passed.
"My Lord, this isn't a big deal," Zhao Changning said with a smile. "You've read the imperial edict. Things have to be done. If we don't open a single kiln by the start of this spring, we'll both be dead."
The magistrate couldn't help himself. "Did you really tell the emperor that? Aren't you afraid that this thing won't work?"
Zhao Changning said with a serious face, "How can it not be done? With the help of the adults and the emperor here, this thing will definitely be accomplished."
She raised her arms and shouted enthusiastically, "God bless Dayong, God bless the emperor."
After hearing this, the county magistrate and the legal advisor fell silent. The muscles on their faces twitched as they looked at Zhao Changning's slender back which was gradually moving away. There was no sound in the backyard of the county government office for a long time.
"Do you think she's stupid or brave?" The magistrate's thick eyebrows were furrowed like a mountain. "Does she even know how to be an official? Or does the emperor just like this? She's not exactly stunningly beautiful, is she?"
The lawyer shook his head with an embarrassed look on his face. Maybe the emperor just had different tastes?
"Sir, what should we do? Should we write a letter to the prefect?"
The magistrate shook his head.
"I think she's crazy, she's sick, there must be something wrong here..." He pointed to his head, "We have to write a letter, but not now. We have to help her, help her make this thing go wrong. If she wants to die, let her die sooner rather than later. Then the emperor won't be able to blame us. Anyway, the money doesn't have to be paid by our county. Let's see how this woman messes around, humph."
It was freezing cold, and there was even a little rain. It was so cold that people's teeth were chattering. The coldness was like a maggot in the tarsus, and the chill was seeping into the cracks between the bones.
"I didn't expect that Jiangxi is colder than Yujing. I feel so wet. I'm freezing to death." Zhao Changning didn't feel better until he got on the carriage and took the hand warmer handed to him by Yunsheng.
Yunsheng said considerately and sweetly, "Aunt, before I left, I made you a pot of yam porridge. Drink it when you get home to warm your stomach."
Zhao Changning sighed. He felt a little warmer when he heard about the hot porridge. He said with satisfaction, "You are so good."
Yunsheng pursed his lips happily when he received the praise.
After getting off the carriage, Song Huan and Zhou Miao also got off another carriage.
As soon as they saw Zhao Changning, they couldn't help laughing, and their pretty faces were distorted.
Zhao Changning: “…”
Song Huan's face turned red from holding it in, but she couldn't help laughing and said, "Aunt, did you see the faces of the magistrate and the legal advisor? They were both twitching."
Zhao Changning was so cold that he didn't want to pay any attention to the two of them. He felt that every time he opened his mouth, the warmth would dissipate a little more, so he ran towards the post station.
Yunsheng brought out some yam porridge, which had been simmered in a clay pot over charcoal fire for almost an hour. It was fragrant, soft, tender and glutinous, and paired with a plate of pickled vegetables made by Grandma Xu, it tasted great.
"Auntie, come, drink a bowl to warm your stomach."
Song Huan and Zhou Miaoxiang kept sniffing, and when Yunsheng finished a bowl, they stopped, "Yunsheng, where are ours?"
Yunsheng turned his back and ignored them.
Zhao Changning saw that he was pouting, obviously unhappy about being laughed at, so he couldn't help laughing and pinched his face.
"Okay, don't be stingy, play it all out and share it with everyone."
Song Huan chuckled, "Yunsheng, don't be angry. We admire our aunt."
This kind of thing is not something that ordinary people can do.
Zhou Miao took a sip from the bowl of porridge and said, "Aunt, do you think he will help us?"
Zhao Changning shook his head. "He only has three choices. The first is to help us, and then we can work together. If he succeeds, he'll be rewarded, and if he fails, he'll still have worked hard. The second is, if he doesn't help us, I'll report him now, and it's uncertain whether he can continue to hold this position. If he succeeds, I won't say much, but if he fails, I'll definitely drag him down until his death."
Mingqiu was stunned. "Aunt, what about the third option?"
Song Huan said: "That's just selective help on the surface, but actually not taking any action at all. It doesn't offend anyone, and there's no way to punish him. People like him are very likely to choose the third option."
Zhou Miao sighed, "It's obviously a good thing, why bother? Aunt, what do you think he will do?"
Zhao Changning supported his chin with his hand, smiled faintly, and said, "We'll know tomorrow."
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The author has something to say: Changning: Mastering [Milk Tea]
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