☆, Chapter 131 Complaint!
It was an order issued by someone under Prefect Feng of the neighboring Yuzhou.
The previous top scholar came from Yuzhou and had some complicated family ties with Prefect Feng. Because of this top scholar, Prefect Feng was promoted three ranks from a ninth-rank county magistrate to a sixth-rank prefect. However, he was not satisfied and wanted to go to the capital to become a first-rank official. But the Feng family was not wealthy, and the previous top scholar had only been in officialdom for a few years. He himself had not yet established himself, so naturally he could not take care of him.
Therefore, Prefect Feng wanted to strive for excellence so that the next top three scholars would all come from Yuzhou.
For the past two years, Prefect Feng has taken great care of the students in his jurisdiction, frequently visiting the academies to give speeches and encouragement. He has also invited renowned scholars from elsewhere, who said that the students in this batch are more talented than the previous year, and that there is no problem for another top scholar to emerge from the Yuzhou region under his jurisdiction.
But Prefect Feng felt it wasn't enough, so he sent people to inquire about which prefecture or county had an exceptionally outstanding candidate. This extensive search led him to hear Zhao Yunjing's name from Lord Fang. He was described as someone who would surely achieve the highest rank in the imperial examinations, a literary genius descended to earth, and so on. Prefect Feng's eyes turned red with envy.
Prefect Feng did not give an explicit order, but those around him knew what he meant and made arrangements without being told. In order not to let people know that he was targeting Zhao Yunjing, he deliberately attacked indiscriminately. Unexpectedly, the students of Peach Blossom County were so courageous that they dared to resist. The six or seven people did not control their temper, which resulted in two deaths.
"This is absolutely outrageous!"
Lord Tang slammed his hand on the table and stood up: "Brother Jiang, I must go to the prefectural government in person to report this matter to Lord Zhao. I will trouble you to accompany me."
“I have an elderly mother in her seventies to take care of, and two children to look after. I can’t get away. So, I’ll have Zhou Yun’s logistics brothers escort you there.”
Lord Tang thought for a moment and said, "No, this matter cannot be reported to Lord Zhao alone. I must go to the capital to file a complaint with the Emperor!"
Jiang Wuyu cupped his hands in greeting: "Zhou Yun's brothers will surely ensure that Lord Tang arrives in the capital safely. If this matter is handled smoothly, the students of Taohua County will definitely be able to participate in the provincial examination in August. Lord Tang, there are not many days left until the prefectural examination."
"We'll set off tomorrow—no, we'll set off right now!"
As he spoke, Lord Tang instructed Constable Liu: "Constable Liu, you have served in the yamen the longest and are a local. After the clerk and I leave, you and Registrar Gao will take care of the yamen's affairs. If you cannot make a decision, report it to Lord Zhao immediately."
"Liang Xing and Liang Guang, one go prepare the horse for the master, and the other return to the Tang residence to prepare supplies for the master's journey—"
Jiang Wuyu interrupted, "Sir, just set off. Zhou Yun Logistics will take care of all the supplies and accommodations along the way. I'll go and make the arrangements now."
Watching Jiang Wuyu's retreating figure, Lord Tang wondered if he had acted too impulsively. He asked Constable Liu, "Why do I feel like this Jiang guy is stirring things up?"
"Young Master Zhao is Miss Zhou's beloved, and this Hero Jiang is Miss Zhou's uncle. If something were to happen to Young Master Zhao, where would he find such a good nephew-in-law? My lord, scholars are the pillars of the Great Liang Kingdom, and the imperial examination is used by the Emperor to select talent. The prefect of Yuzhou is harming scholars, and this is happening before the imperial examination. This is simply outrageous and shows no respect for the Emperor!"
“You’re right. This Prefect Feng is too lawless. If I handle this so slowly, he might dare to do it again next time.”
Just then, Jiang Wuyu returned: "Lord Tang, Prefect Feng left Yuzhou early this morning for the capital!"
Is this going to be a case of the guilty party accusing the innocent first?
Without saying a word, Lord Tang followed Jiang Wuyu.
When Zhou Mujiao entered the city today, she gave instructions to Ma Dalang, so Ma Dalang waited outside the yamen. As soon as Jiang Wuyu came out, he immediately went out to make preparations. By the time Lord Tang arrived at the city gate, Zhou Yunliu's men had already arrived.
There were at least fifty men, mostly strong and robust young men. Even the smaller ones had solemn and murderous expressions. They rode on tall horses, and the wind blew up their clothes. Lord Tang suddenly felt as if he were on a battlefield.
Lord Tang was a civil official who only learned to ride a horse after he became an official. Now that he was on horseback, his legs were a little weak.
It will take at least half a month to get to the capital. Surely nothing will happen on the way?
Prefect Feng has already set off, and he must be traveling day and night. If I want to get there before him, I must run faster than him. With his health, will he be able to make it to the capital alive after all this?
"Lord Tang, there's no need to worry!" Ma Dalang said loudly. "We will definitely deliver Lord Tang within seven days, and we will absolutely not delay your important business! My lord, let's set off!"
Even traveling day and night would take half a month, and Ma Dalang said he could send him to the capital in seven days—that's probably sending him to the Western Paradise!
A large cavalry escorted Lord Tang to the capital. After only one day of travel, Lord Tang felt extremely tired. By the fifth day, he was on the verge of death. When he arrived at the palace gate and dismounted, he could barely stand.
Lord Tang was carried into the Golden Palace. After tearfully recounting the injustice of Prefect Feng's persecution of the scholars of Taohua County in court, he fainted. He slept for three days before waking up. When he did, he learned that the Emperor had sent the Sixteenth Prince to arrest Prefect Feng, and that he himself had been promoted three ranks for his meritorious act of reporting and exposing the crime despite the danger, from a seventh-rank county magistrate to a fourth-rank county magistrate.
A county magistrate of the fourth rank—that must be the highest-ranking county magistrate in the history of the Great Liang Dynasty, right?
After receiving visits from civil officials in the capital for five or six days, Lord Tang ultimately couldn't bear to leave the students and people of Peach Blossom County and decided to return immediately.
He had thought that since the petition to the emperor had been successfully submitted, there was no need to rush back. Who knew that the return trip would be even more rushed, taking an hour less than the journey there!
Taohua County is still Taohua County, but Tang Zhicai is no longer the same Tang Zhicai!
After capturing Prefect Feng and his gang, the Sixteenth Prince also made his way to Peach Blossom County.
When the Emperor was young, he liked to travel incognito. After thinking about it, the Sixteenth Prince also concealed his identity and disguised himself as a wealthy young master from out of town. First, he wanted to experience the exhilaration of being looked down upon at first and then being slapped in the face after his identity was revealed. Second, he really wanted to see if this small Peach Blossom County was truly full of talented people, so much so that it could make Prefect Feng take such a risk.
"Sir, this is Peach Blossom County. Horses are not allowed in the city, please dismount."
The Sixteenth Prince dismounted and strolled around the city, finding it hard to believe that this was the auspicious place that Prefect Feng had described as the place where the God of Literature would appear.
Having been in the city for some time, the Sixteenth Prince was thirsty. Coincidentally, there was Hu Dasao's milk tea shop right next door. He asked curiously, "Milk tea, is it the crispy tea that came from the grasslands?"
The guard couldn't answer either, only saying that there seemed to be a Sister Hu's Milk Tea shop in Yuzhou, and this one might be a branch of the one in Yuzhou City.
At this moment, a clear, cold female voice came from behind: "This is the main store. The Hu Dasao Milk Tea shops in Yuzhou City and other cities are all branches of this store."
The Sixteenth Prince turned around and saw a young woman in a blue dress. She nodded to him and said, "Sister Hu's milk tea isn't the crispy tea from beyond the Great Wall, but you'll have to taste it for yourself to see what it's like. Please, sir?"
It was Zhou Mujiao!
As the Sixteenth Prince looked into her bright eyes, a thought flashed through his mind: I want this woman!
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