Chapter 95: You are a heartless woman...
Gao Cong's handsome face turned red with anger, but he had no other words to refute, and he didn't dare to really annoy Zhao Changning. He could only stamp his feet in anger and mutter in his heart.
Zhao Changning walked straight into the yard without even looking at him.
Granny Xu pulled Yunqiu over and looked her over, then wiped her eyes and sighed heavily, "Why have you lost weight again?"
Zhao Changning smiled. It was good enough that he could come back alive.
Yun Qiu quietly held her hand, his eyes as clear as water seemed to be able to speak.
Zhao Changning patted her head and said softly, "I have to leave. I'm going south, maybe to look for your brother. Yujing is not safe here, and you've been implicated by me. Do you want to come with me?"
Yun Qiu nodded vigorously, and his eyes suddenly became bright and expectant.
Zhao Changning knew that she missed her brother, and Mingxuan too, and he actually didn't even come back to see her.
Granny Xu followed suit, saying, "You've all left, leaving me, an old woman, alone. Take me with you. I can still cook and wash for you."
Zhao Changning nodded, "Mother-in-law, thank you for your hard work. I will give you more monthly salary..."
Granny Xu waved her hands repeatedly. "Money doesn't mean much to an old woman like me. I just want to take good care of you and Yunqiu. I hope that one day, I can see her find a good home."
She had long regarded Yunqiu as a relative and was reluctant to let him go.
Zhao Changning didn't say much and called Yunsheng over.
"I owe this to the Queen. When you return to the palace, kowtow to her and thank her on my behalf. Tell the eldest princess that I didn't mean to withhold my farewells. I will definitely be back. Tell her to study hard and that I will bring her many gifts when I return."
Yunsheng felt something was wrong as he listened. He was very confused and asked, "Auntie, what about me?"
"Yunsheng, you have to stay." Zhao Changning looked at Yunsheng's face, which was almost about to cry, and said softly, "Of all the people, I only trust you. Yunsheng, you have been by my side for so long, you should know my situation and how difficult it has been for me to get to where I am today. I will never allow anyone to take my place while I am away."
Yunsheng's eyes were filled with reluctance and unwillingness. He knelt devoutly beside his aunt's knees, raised his head and said expectantly: "Aunt, we won't do that. We are all loyal to you."
Zhao Changning smiled. "I believe you, but I don't trust others. Yunsheng, keep an eye on it for me. I want to know everything that happens in the palace. Do you understand?"
Yunsheng nodded while crying, and choked up and said, "I understand, aunt."
Zhao Changning patted his shoulder and said soothingly, "Don't cry all the time in the future. When encountering problems, you should calmly think of a solution. If you really can't figure it out, go ask Song Huan and the others. They will help you find a solution, okay?"
Yunsheng nodded vigorously.
Gao Cong passed by and said with an apologetic smile, "Why don't you let me stay? I can at least show you the house, as long as you pay enough."
Zhao Changning glanced at him and said, "Sure, as long as you can handle the Gao family."
Gao Cong immediately shut up, and even his facial expression almost disappeared.
Zhao Changning didn't know what had happened to him by the Gao family. Whenever the Gao family was mentioned, he felt something was wrong.
It was winter again and she was leaving Beijing. This time was different from the last time. She was reprimanded and demoted, so the psychological situation was different. Moreover, she was seasick, so it might be dangerous to travel by land.
Fortunately, the people sent by the emperor were easy to talk to and took good care of us along the way. It was also an official road, so there was not much danger. As for the modified bird guns, most of them were used to hunt game and improve food.
Her accuracy is the best even among these well-trained people.
"Zhao Changning, come quickly! I just saw a rabbit." Gao Cong ran over excitedly. "Come quickly! Let's ask Grandma Xu to cook rabbit meat for us tonight."
Zhao Changning didn't want to pay any attention to him.
He had been in a bad mood since the start of the journey, arguing with people all day long. But since he discovered the bird gun, he had become overly lively, especially after seeing her take action. He stopped arguing with her and kept pestering her for target practice.
"Let me and Granny Xu take a break. We're already in Fujian, so we shouldn't attract too much attention."
Gao Cong sat aside unhappily, picked up the tea bowl and poured a cup of cold tea, and was about to hand another cup to Yun Qiu.
"Don't give Yunqiu cold drinks." Zhao Changning looked at him coldly, "If I find you leading Yunqiu astray again, I'll deduct one thousand taels of silver from your salary."
Gao Cong's pretty face twitched with anger, her peach blossom eyes widened. "You, you evil woman, you've already deducted nearly three thousand taels of silver from me. You're really too cruel to deduct so much at once, aren't you?"
Zhao Changning glanced at him calmly. "The first time, you almost let slip our relationship. The second time, because you ran around, the entire team was delayed for three whole days. Gao Cong, I'm not your grandfather, nor am I a member of the Gao family. I have no obligation to take care of you or tolerate you."
Gao Cong felt a little disappointed when she mentioned his grandfather, and muttered unhappily, "I know."
He who knows the times is a hero. Humph, don't bully the young and poor.
Fujian is mountainous and full of bandits, so people used to avoid it when traveling. This time, Zhao Changning sent a letter to Mingxuan in advance, and Mingxuan replied, saying that Taiping would come to pick them up, so they didn't have to take a detour.
Zhao Changning knew that Mingxuan's cannons were used very well. The large pits he occasionally saw on the side of the mountain might be the result of the power of the Red Cannon.
At this time, Taiping came in from outside, excitedly, "Let's go, there is a boat. This section of mountain road is very difficult to travel, it will be better to go by water. I'm sorry to trouble the female secretary."
Zhao Changning sighed, he really couldn't escape.
She left some muskets and asked the escort to turn back.
The journey was not easy, from the snow-covered mountains to early spring. The trees along the road gradually turned from dead branches to green, and the green on the ground slowly emerged with the spring rain.
This time on the boat, with the food specially prepared by Grandma Xu, Zhao Changning felt much better. He just couldn't eat, but at least he didn't vomit.
After finally arriving in Fuzhou, Zhao Changning was still far away from the governor's office when he could no longer hold on and lay down straight.
"Taiping, take Yunqiu and go first." She looked pale. "I'll rest for two days and come back to see you when I'm better."
Taiping looked at Yunqiu, who was rarely excited, and then at Zhao Changning. "Why don't we stay here too and leave together when the time comes? Your Excellency won't mind."
Zhao Changning pointed at Yunqiu and said, "Yunqiu misses her brother. Take her there first. Don't worry about me."
Taiping didn't insist anymore and took Yunqiu ahead.
Gao Cong was very sad when he learned that Yun Qiu was leaving first. She was his only friend.
He didn't want to stay with Zhao Changning, so he followed Grandma Xu in and out. Occasionally, when he was asked to bring medicine or porridge, he would pout and look very unhappy.
Zhao Changning didn't bother to pay attention to him, as long as he didn't bother her.
After resting for two days, she felt much better, so she rented a carriage and prepared to go to the governor's office to meet Mingxuan, the busy governor.
Unfortunately, Mingxuan was not in the yamen. He said he was out on business. Upon asking, it turned out that he was working with other yamen to build roads and dig canals in the mountains.
She also knew about this and was the one who strongly advocated for funding. Fujian has many mountains and forests, and it's a pity that tea cannot be exported. Building roads and canals is a good thing.
Gao Cong was immediately displeased. "He's a good governor, but he's not doing his job in the government office. Why is he running around? Really..."
Zhao Changning saw the place and didn't want to pay attention to him. He took out two hundred taels of silver notes and gave them to him, "Then go and have fun by yourself. Be careful."
Gao Cong swung the silver notes loudly, "Are you sending away the beggars? Not enough, not enough, give me some more."
Zhao Changning glanced at him, and seeing him shrink his head, he warned him, "Don't cause trouble. Stay at the post station and wait for me to come back. If you behave, I will give you another three hundred taels when I come back."
Gao Cong muttered to himself that he was a stingy person, but he also agreed honestly.
She took Grandma Xu to the mountains, wanting to see how Mingxuan was doing with what he had always wanted to do.
Fujian is not only mountainous, but also has extremely poor roads. The carriage would not want to go any further after halfway through the journey.
The driver pointed at the mud-covered wheel and said helplessly, "Girl, it's not that I don't want to go, I just can't go any further. If I try to force my way through this muddy road after the rain, my horse will be half dead."
Zhao Changning was not an unreasonable person, so he asked him to tie up the horse and take them inside.
"Girl, it's difficult to walk in this mountain, and there's nothing good here. Why do you insist on going in?" The driver was very confused.
Zhao Changning smiled and said, "The man who built the road is my friend. I haven't seen him for a long time. I thought I'd go see him since I'm here."
The driver then talked about this road, meaning that the road was in poor condition, but it was better than nothing, and that the tea leaves had grown this year, so a lot of people would be needed to pick them.
"There are so many tea trees here. If this road is really repaired, I will ask my wife to come and pick tea. We can make a lot of money in a day. Maybe we can even earn enough money to pay for our children's education."
Zhao Changning listened quietly.
The driver saw that she had an outstanding temperament and her attire did not look like that of a farmer. After walking on the mountain road for a while, he was out of breath.
"Girl, what's your friend's name? I'll go find him to pick you up. At your pace, I'm afraid you won't be able to make it before dark."
Zhao Changning sighed and looked at the road that was churned into a yellow mud soup after the rain. Although it was built wide, it was still difficult for people to walk on it, not to mention that she and Grandma Xu were old and weak, so they couldn't show off.
"Okay, big brother, thank you for your help."
She mentioned Mingxuan's name.
The driver's eyes suddenly lit up, and he was obviously much more enthusiastic. "You are Lord Ming's friend? Oh, you should have told me earlier, hahaha..."
Zhao Changning was infected by his smile and said with a smile: "Brother, is he a good official?"
The driver smiled and nodded, "Of course he is. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't dare to drive you here. This place used to be a bandit's den, and many people died while picking tea. Now, not only are there no bandits, but they even let us pick tea. Isn't this a good official? We locals are very grateful to him..."
Zhao Changning and Grandma Xu were waiting there.
Granny Xu couldn't help but sigh, "If there had been a good official like Mingxuan back then, my husband wouldn't have died so early."
Zhao Changning held her hand and said, "There will be more and more. Mingxuan is just the beginning. There will be more good officials in the future."
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, Grandma Xu ran around and dug up a large bag of wild vegetables. There were so many wild vegetables in the forest, and even quite a few herbs. She was so happy that she kept shouting.
Zhao Changning was also inspired by her. Looking at the lush green forest, his nose was filled with the fragrance of green grass and the moisture after the rain. He felt his mind became much more open and his mood inexplicably relaxed.
The south and the north are different. The north is dry and the south is humid. Each has its own advantages.
"Hey, over there, sir, it's over there." The coachman's voice sounded.
Zhao Changning turned his head and saw a group of people coming from the woods in the distance. He couldn't tell who they were because of the branches and vines. He could only hear the clear sound of copper bells jingling, echoing in the woods.
After waiting for a while, she turned a corner and saw his face.
Mingxuan, Taiping, and Lian Yunqiu were jumping around with their skirts lifted up. There was a wobbly ox cart in the middle. Everyone had their feet covered in yellow mud, and they were all smiling and looked very happy.
It wasn't long before they were all right before our eyes.
Zhao Changning looked at Mingxuan and found that he had become stronger, but still handsome. However, in his short clothes, he looked less and less like the third place winner in the imperial examination. Even his scholarly air seemed to have been worn away a lot, and he looked more and more simple.
"Your Excellency, it's been a long time since we last met. It was so hard for me to find you."
Mingxuan laughed heartily and apologized repeatedly, "Thank you for your hard work, Nv Shuling."
He looked at Zhao Changning openly, his eyes full of joy, and found that she had not changed much, just a lot thinner, but her eyes were still as bright as before.
Zhao Changning settled the bill with the driver and prepared to leave with Mingxuan.
Mingxuan smiled and teased, "Nu Shuling, you didn't forget anything this time, did you? Should I leave first?"
Zhao Changning looked at the ox cart and glanced at Mingxuan helplessly, knowing that he was making fun of the time when they used the ox cart. She refused to ride the ox cart and insisted that Yunsheng rent a horse carriage.
She also cooperated, her face solemn, "Your Excellency has been in Fujian for so long, and you haven't even bought a carriage?"
Ming Xuan pretended to reply, "To answer the female secretary, the muddy road in the mountains is not easy for a carriage to travel on. An ox cart is more practical. I'm just afraid of getting your clothes dirty. Please don't mind."
As he said this, he took the reins from Taiping, let Zhao Changning and Grandma Xu sit on them, and everyone walked towards the village in the mountains.
Seeing Zhao Changning looking a bit embarrassed, Mingxuan couldn't help but feel guilty, "Why didn't you wait at the Futai Yamen? The road here is difficult to walk on. I was thinking of repairing this section of road in a couple of days, so I could go see you."
Zhao Changning felt dizzy from the swaying of the carriage and stammered, "I was demoted for a mistake and won't be staying for many days. You should have heard what Taiping said, right?"
Mingxuan nodded. "Fortunately, you're okay. I'm sorry I couldn't help you."
"What's there to be sorry about?" Zhao Changning smiled. "Besides, I'm fine."
The two chatted back and forth like old friends who hadn't seen each other for a long time, and everyone was very happy.
The village in the mountains was dilapidated and was previously inhabited by bandits. In order to build a road, Mingxuan didn't want to trouble the people in the mountains, so he cleaned up and moved in.
Mingxuan spared no effort in introducing the mountains here to Zhao Changning, "...that area is full of tea trees, and they are all old. They say that you live by the mountain and you live by the water. The people here have no choice but to guard the silver mountain and have no way to make a living."
Zhao Changning looked at the winding road at the foot of the mountain and nodded. "If this road is really built, we can export tea in large quantities. The Portuguese in the north and overseas like our tea. The tea in the south is almost entirely controlled by wealthy clansmen, and the imperial court is reluctant to intervene. If your plan is successful, it will be very beneficial."
Fujian has ready-made tea mountains. Without bandits occupying the land, there is indeed great potential for development.
Mingxuan smiled, "Nu Shuling, I will leave this tea to you then."
Seeing Zhao Changning's perceptive gaze, he didn't hide anything and said with a helpless smile, "Seeing your porcelain business flourishing, who wouldn't be jealous? I spent a lot of effort to convince the Fujian officials of the benefits of building this road, and even said I knew the Nvshu Ling herself. I swore an oath to them, otherwise they wouldn't have allowed me to do this, and the road wouldn't have been built so quickly."
Zhao Changning shook his head. "It seems you were just waiting for me to come. You've almost spent all the money you saved, right?"
"Yes." Mingxuan sighed, "Building canals and roads is the most expensive and labor-intensive. I work hard to suppress bandits, partly for the gold, silver, and treasures in their dens."
Zhao Changning expressed his understanding. "As long as you give me the tea here, I won't let you suffer any loss."
Mingxuan breathed a sigh of relief and clasped his fists towards her. "With this, I have finally given my all to the people of Fujian and my colleagues. I thank you on their behalf."
Zhao Changning waved his hands repeatedly, and rubbed his heavy shoes covered with yellow mud on the grass.
Afterwards, she went to eat again. When she heard that the dishes were roasted rat and stewed rat, which were actually rare delicacies, she felt a little nauseous. Fortunately, Grandma Xu made some wild vegetable pancakes.
Life here is really hard. I wonder how Mingxuan managed to persevere. Is it worth it?
Zhao Changning couldn't understand. She would never be like Mingxuan and do such a selfless thing for the sake of justice and the people.
Everything she did was for power, status, money, and more importantly, for herself.
After two days, Zhao Changning really couldn't stand the environment here and prepared to go down the mountain.
Mingxuan immediately decided to go down the mountain with her. "When you get to Fujian, I will definitely treat you to a good meal. I'm sorry for making you suffer with me in the mountains."
Zhao Changning, however, punctured his words, "Alright, let's not be so perfunctory between you and me. Who do you want to introduce?"
Mingxuan burst into laughter, "I can't hide anything from you."
He took Zhao Changning to a restaurant not far from the government office and carefully instructed the kitchen staff to prepare some of Zhao Changning's favorite dishes.
"This man's name is Wen Yu, the Governor of Fujian. He's a friend I made since I came to Fujian. He's very curious about you. When he learned that I knew you, he'd always wanted to meet you. He also helped with the road and canal construction, so I wanted to introduce him to you."
Although Zhao Changning was demoted and transferred, any discerning person could see from this incident that she was favored and trusted by the emperor, so it would not be a bad idea to make friends with her early on.
As for men and women, power has long blurred gender.
Zhao Changning listened to him seriously and nodded, "I also want to meet a friend you can recognize..."
Before he could finish his words, the door was suddenly kicked open.
Mingxuan's eyes focused and he reacted quickly. He immediately stood up and protected Zhao Changning behind him.
He looked at Gao Cong, who was dressed in red and whose beauty was difficult to tell whether he was male or female, and shouted angrily, "How dare you! Who are you?"
"You're such a jerk, Zhao Changning, huh? You've gone too far." Gao Cong ignored him completely, his eyes turning red with anger, his pretty face surging with fury.
He put his hands on his hips and pointed at Zhao Changning in accusation.
"I saw you from a distance, and you were secretly meeting a man? Huh? Do you have any heart? What do you take me for? Your mistress?"
Zhao Changning: “…”
Mingxuan: “…”
Gao Cong was heartbroken and regretful when he thought about the huge amount of silver he hadn't gotten yet. How could he have been so bewitched as to believe what this evil woman said?
"Are you trying to abandon me because of him? You're such a heartless woman, such a blind and black-hearted woman. You're such a liar who doesn't keep your word. You're so evil..."
-----------------------
The author has something to say: Changning: [scared][scared] Oh my god, let me be quiet!
Gao Cong: [Angry] Wuuwuwu, Zhao Changning is indeed a red egg, a big, brittle red egg [bursts into tears] [bursts into tears] She's still trying to abandon me now, isn't she trying to take this opportunity to find someone else to play the role of adulterer with her? My money [cracks open]...
Mingxuan: [helpless] What's going on? I don't quite understand. [scattering flowers] Am I the legal wife? [laughing]
Author: What are you talking about? Give my readers money!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
