Qingchen entered the backyard of the government office, but there was still no one there. It seemed that since the previous prefect's incident, the government office had essentially become defunct in the past two months, and the officials and servants had all disappeared.
Qingchen called out, "Is anyone here?" but his voice echoed in the empty government office.
As expected of a place far from the emperor's reach, this entire prefecture was deserted in broad daylight, with not a single person conducting official business. No wonder even the dogs on the roadside were sleeping right at the gate.
Qingchen's residence was in the backyard of the government office, a small courtyard with two sections. After the previous prefect passed away, his family had also moved out of the backyard. Some personal belongings were abandoned and have not been cleaned up yet, remaining scattered in the backyard, making it look rather messy.
Perhaps due to the abundant rainfall in Yunnan, the plants in the yard were lush and verdant, their green leaves looking quite vibrant. The temperature in April was neither too hot nor too cold, and the sunlight shone on the Yunnan land, creating halos of light and floating dust in the air.
Standing there, watching the sunlight fall on her, Qingchen suddenly felt as if she were in another world. She had actually come to Yunnan.
Along the way, she saw many beautiful lakes and mountains in Yunnan, with winding and enchanting landscapes. The local people dressed very differently from those in the capital, their clothes more vibrant and colorful, and their eyes and smiles seemed very simple and honest. They spoke very quickly, mostly in the local dialect, much of which she couldn't understand. She could only roughly discern their joys and sorrows through their expressions.
Before the carriage stopped, her eyes were still observing the land and people under her jurisdiction, still in a state of awareness and novelty, wanting to understand and integrate into the area as quickly as possible.
Only now, arriving at the government office and facing the empty surroundings, did she truly realize that she was really going to have to stay here. And who knew how long this stay would last.
Qingchen sighed and prepared to tidy up the backyard. Old Shen was already feeling the effects of the journey, so she had to arrange for him to sit in the main hall first, leaving all the cleaning and tidying to be done by herself.
She first looked around, intending to find some brooms and other tools, but unexpectedly found a swing next to a tree in the corner of the yard. A breeze blew, green leaves fluttered down, and the simple swing swayed gently in the wind. Its seat had become very smooth, with black growth rings on its dark brown surface.
Two months ago, Qingchen sat on a swing for the first time; it was made by Song Yue himself. It was their last sweet moment alone together. She woke up, opened the door, and saw the setting sun streaming into the room, casting his tall figure in the sunlight. He smiled and said to her, "I made you a swing."
A high-ranking official, whose pen could effortlessly determine the fate of countless people, yet he used his own hands to build himself a swing. At that moment, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and he held a hammer, rope, and other tools in his hands. He didn't look like a high-ranking official, but rather like a master carpenter. His eyes were filled with pride in his work and anticipation of her praise.
She sat on the swing, and he waited beside her. They discussed national affairs and politics, sharing and listening to each other's views and opinions. As night fell, the sky over the outskirts of Beijing was filled with stars, and slowly, their feelings transformed into a deep and sweet affection between them.
He held her on the swing, softly calling her name again and again, as if she were a precious treasure he cherished on the tip of his tongue. His gaze was gentle and tender, his breath soft and warm, and she was completely enveloped in his unique scent.
Later, he lowered his head and kissed her, deeply and lightly, tenderly and lingeringly.
In her entire world, he entered with the most captivating charm, and unknowingly and gently but domineeringly invaded her heart. In a life that seemed hopeless due to the secret that could lead to her execution, she unexpectedly and pleasantly discovered a crack, and through that crack, she saw her own happy and fulfilling life.
Unfortunately, she never saw him smile after that day. Of course he would smile, she just couldn't see it.
He treated her like an ordinary subordinate, or even more harshly than he treated other subordinates. She knew how dedicated and serious he was about work, but seeing his stern reprimands still made her incredibly sad.
However, all of that is in the past.
The memories are unbearable to recall.
Qingchen found the tools, then rolled up his sleeves and began cleaning, busily working inside and out.
An hour later, just as she was so exhausted she could hardly breathe, she finally saw the first official from Yuanjiang Prefecture.
The man was dressed in a blue official robe, carrying several scrolls. He seemed to have some difficulty walking. When he entered the backyard and saw Qingchen's busy figure, he quickly put down what he was carrying and said, "Lord Shen has finally arrived."
"Who are you?"
"This humble official, Xie Wenyuan, the Vice Prefect of Yuanjiang Prefecture, greets Your Excellency, the Prefect." He said, bowing as he spoke.
In the Ming Dynasty, the highest-ranking official in a prefecture was the prefect, a fourth-rank official. Below him were the assistant prefect, a fifth-rank official, and the vice prefect, a sixth-rank official. There were also officials such as the clerk, the magistrate, the inspector, and the prison warden, who assisted the prefect in managing the prefecture's administration, finances, education, and taxes.
The prefectural magistrate Xie Wenyuan told Qingchen about the situation in Yuanjiang Prefecture—the former prefect had died in an accident, and the assistant prefect had just reached retirement age, leaving only him, the prefectural magistrate, to manage the affairs of the prefecture. However, he had also been injured when the prefect died and had to stay at home to recuperate for two months, so the administration of the prefecture was temporarily neglected.
His condition had improved in recent days, and he was able to get out of bed with difficulty, so he handled some official business at home. The other officials, either stationed in a certain county or becoming lax when they saw that their superiors were not present, had led to the absurd situation of no one managing the government affairs in the prefectural office.
"I just heard that a carriage had stopped in front of the government office, and I guessed that it might be Lord Shen," Xie Wenyuan said. "Now that I see it, it really is you. That's wonderful. The people of Yuanjiang Prefecture have finally welcomed their new benefactor."
Qingchen had left in a hurry; the transfer document from the cabinet had just been issued when she departed. Therefore, the transfer document wasn't sent to her new post beforehand as is customary, but rather she brought it with her. However, judging from the prefect's tone, it seemed he already knew it was her. Qingchen couldn't help but wonder, "How did you know it was me?"
“Last month, I received a letter saying that Lord Shen of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was coming to Yunnan and asked me to assist him in governing the country.”
"Whose letter is this?"
Xie Wenyuan took out the letter from his pocket and presented it to Qingchen with both hands. "Please take a look, sir. It's from Grand Secretary Song."
She paused, then looked at the letter; sure enough, it bore the handwriting she knew all too well. After a moment of silence, Qingchen shook her head. "Since it's a letter for you, I won't read it. What else does it say?"
"Your Excellency instructed me that since Lord Shen is new to Yunnan, he will inevitably experience some difficulties adjusting. I must arrange all his needs, including his food and lodging," Xie Wenyuan said. "I originally thought he would arrive in half a month, and his injuries have not yet healed, so I was unable to prepare his lodgings in advance. I have failed Your Excellency's instructions, and I beg your punishment..."
Qingchen shook his head. "I came in a hurry, and your injuries haven't healed yet, so this isn't your fault... Did the letter say how long you were supposed to assist me?"
Xie Wenyuan was a little taken aback, and only after a moment did he realize that Lord Shen's question was probably asking how long she planned to stay in Yunnan. Unfortunately, he couldn't answer that question, because the Grand Secretary hadn't mentioned it.
"Rest assured, my lord, I will certainly do my best to assist you." That was the only answer he could give.
Qingchen took a breath almost imperceptibly and responded with an "Mm".
Later, Xie Wenyuan introduced his own situation. He was originally Song Yue's subordinate. When Song Yue served as the Provincial Treasurer of Zhejiang, he was one of Song Yue's assistants. Later, when Song Yue returned to the capital to take up his post, he requested to return to his hometown of Yunnan, which Song Yue approved.
"When Grand Secretary Song was the Provincial Treasurer, he treated his subordinates very well. If it weren't for him, I don't know if I would have been able to return to my hometown in this life." As he helped Qingchen clean, he slowly recounted the things he had experienced or heard about Song Yue when he worked with him before.
It's clear that he finds that period of time unforgettable, as he considers it to be the most successful and triumphant years of his life.
"At that time, the Grand Secretary was young, only twenty-three or twenty-four years old, but his talent was truly remarkable. He was exceptionally intelligent and also very diligent, often working late into the night. You may not know, but the tax revenue of Zhejiang province doubled in the year after he arrived." Xie Wenyuan spoke with great pride, recalling the events as he spoke. "The most unforgettable thing was one year when Zhejiang suffered a major disaster, and the stored grain was insufficient to distribute to the victims. At that time, the Yellow River was flooded, but the Grand Secretary still risked his life to travel by boat to Jiangsu to borrow grain, working tirelessly for three days and three nights without sleep..."
Yes. Qingchen remembered that when she was still in the Hanlin Academy, it was raining one day, and she rode in Song Yue's carriage. At that time, they were just ordinary teacher and student. She was very nervous about him sitting next to her and could only try to make conversation to ease the awkwardness. As they talked, they happened to talk about his trip to Jiangsu to borrow grain.
He asked her what she would do if she couldn't afford to eat on her salary in the future, and she replied that she would eat at her teacher's house.
Little did she know that her words would soon come true; she really did go to his house for the New Year and had New Year's Eve dinner with him. Later, they shared their first kiss on a snowy night…
"...Alright." Qingchen suddenly stopped his reverie and said, "Let's not talk about him for now."
Xie Wenyuan agreed, then took his leave from Qingchen, saying he was going to inform all the officials and yamen runners below to help tidy up the government office.
By the time everyone was settled and the officials below had arrived one after another, it was already three days later.
Qingchen held a meeting for them, where everyone reported on their responsibilities, covering Yuanjiang Prefecture's administration, finances, taxes, military affairs, horse administration, merchants, immigrant resettlement, and so on. She listened to these reports for seven days straight, and every night during those seven days, she had to review the prefectural records to see if the situation was as her subordinates described, and to determine how many of them were actually doing the work.
Fortunately, although the sudden death of the former prefect had affected morale, they were not unrepentant and stubborn people. They were willing to do the things that Qingchen asked them to do.
However, she knew that Xie Wenyuan had played a part in this. To be precise, it was Song Yue's contribution.
Although Song Yue was far away in the capital, he was still one of the most prominent figures in the Ming Dynasty. With him as her backer, who would dare to openly oppose Qingchen? In addition, she and Xu Silin were from the same school, and anyone who wanted to survive in the officialdom would not want to offend this newly appointed prefect.
Qingchen never expected that her political resources, which were the envy of countless scholars, would actually come in handy in distant Yunnan.
From another perspective, as long as she continues on the path of officialdom, no matter where she goes, she will always have inextricable connections with Song Yue and Xu Silin. Even if she wants to forget, she can't.
Xie Wenyuan also said that the governor of Yunnan had been replaced before she came to Yunnan, and she heard that it was Song Yue's idea.
The Ming Dynasty had thirteen provinces, each headed by a governor. Below the provinces were prefectures, sub-prefectures, and counties. In other words, as the prefect of Yuanjiang Prefecture, Qingchen's direct superior was the governor of Yunnan.
The former governor was a corrupt and incompetent official, and not only that, he was also extremely lecherous, indulging in both men and women. This governor had more than twenty wives and concubines, and countless lovers. In particular, he had a special fondness for handsome young men. Because he had been stationed in Yunnan for more than ten years, far from the capital, the court didn't bother to manage him. As long as he didn't commit any serious offenses, his moral failings were tolerated.
However, half a month before Qingchen arrived, the imperial decree had already been issued, and the governor of Yunnan had been replaced.
Xie Wenyuan's information was correct; this was exactly what Song Yue meant.
However, to replace the regional governor, Song Yue needed the help of one person: the Minister of Personnel. Two months ago, he devised a plan and negotiated with this minister from Xu Yan's faction, finally securing his assistance to replace the governor of Yunnan with Zhu Rui. Yunnan was too far away, so Xu Yan didn't care much and the replacement was done.
This is why everyone saw Song Yue at the wedding banquet of the Minister of Personnel's son.
"Why was the previous governor replaced?" Qingchen asked, puzzled.
Xie Wenyuan shook his head, "I don't know. But... it would be a good thing for you, Lord Shen."
"How so?"
Xie Wenyuan then recounted to Qingchen the governor's numerous misdeeds, including how he neglected his duties, acted arbitrarily, forcibly married a commoner, harassed courtesans, and imprisoned a young official under his command, leading to his accidental death.
Upon hearing this, Qingchen frowned, and then felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
Is this really Song Yue's idea? Assuming it is, then why is he doing this... for her?
Qingchen was unsure, not at all.
But what does it matter whether it is or not? He personally brought her to Yunnan. In the vast territory of the Ming Dynasty, while it snows in the capital, one can still wear a thin veil in Yunnan. He was on that side, and she was on this side.
Whether we can meet again depends on whether the rest of our lives are long enough.
Summer is almost here in Beijing, and the flowers are already in full bloom.
The same applies to the Song family mansion.
The servants began to disassemble, wash, and air out the items used throughout the winter, including the bedding Qingchen had slept in during the New Year at the Song residence. It was light purple with a floral pattern.
Song Yue happened to pass by when the maid was airing the bedding in the courtyard. The moment he saw these items, he stopped in his tracks.
So the maid who was washing clothes asked him, "After this set of bedding is washed, should we put it away or put it back in the original room?"
Song Yue was about to leave to attend a not-so-important appointment when his gaze swept indifferently over the set of bedding he had personally chosen, and he simply said, "Whatever you want."
As a servant, this was the first time the little maid had heard such an order. She dared not ask any further questions and could only watch the master's back disappear from sight.
She was being nosy. Adults are so busy, how could they have time to worry about what to do with a set of bedding?
Meanwhile, at the Lu family mansion, a lineage of Imperial Guards, the current commander of the Imperial Guards, Lu Shenyun, had just recovered from his illness.
Two months ago, he cut his arm, and the wound became infected while chasing Qingchen, causing Lu Shenyun to have several episodes of low-grade and high fever. When he was first sent back to the Zhenfu Division, the imperial physician shook his head as he examined his wound. The symptoms of dizziness, red eyes, unconsciousness, and persistent fever were exactly those of sepsis.
The medical standards in the Ming Dynasty were not high. If soldiers were wounded by swords, spears, or halberds on the battlefield and did not receive timely treatment, they were very likely to contract sepsis, which was almost a death sentence.
Lu Shenyun was lucky; he was shaken off by Qingchen in time, lost consciousness in time, and was discovered and sent back to the Zhenfu Division in time, which saved his life thanks to the imperial physician. However, the past two months have not been easy for him. His condition kept fluctuating, improving for a while only to relapse, improving for a while only to relapse again. He had a low-grade fever that lasted on and off for two months, requiring him to take countless medications.
The most valiant general of the Ming Dynasty, who was usually seen as an iron man, suffered the two most serious injuries in his life, both of which were related to Qingchen.
This time, he escaped death for her sake, without her even knowing it.
Qingchen focused all her energy on government affairs. Yunnan was a remote place, and Yuanjiang Prefecture was even more so. Although her team problem had been temporarily resolved, there were still many issues that needed to be addressed.
To govern a region effectively, money and food are paramount. Only when the people are well-fed and clothed will social conflicts decrease.
However, after she learned that the grain yield per mu in Yuanjiang Prefecture was relatively low compared to the rest of the country, which was certainly related to the geology. But it was also relatively low within Yunnan Province, which made Qingchen scratch her head.
The first problem she needed to solve was the food issue.
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