"Yes, Boss Jiang is a truly kind person, and everyone admires her," the waiter said.
After a moment's thought, Xuan Yuan Ye returned to his room and said to his subordinates, "Go and investigate."
"yes."
Jiang Tian had no idea that someone was investigating her; she had already arrived at the county magistrate's residence.
Upon seeing her, the steward didn't even dare to stop her. He informed the county magistrate and then welcomed her in.
The magistrate of Anping County was from Zhao State. Xuanyuan Ye was using a gentle, persuasive approach, gradually placing important positions in the hands of people from Zhao State, so that he could eventually unify the Southern Kingdom.
This magistrate was a poor scholar from childhood. He passed the imperial examination twice before being assigned to this impoverished county. However, he was relatively well-behaved and did not cause any major disturbances.
He is a smart man. Although his political achievements are mediocre, he meets the standards in other aspects.
The people had no objections to him, nor did they hate him because he was from the Zhao Kingdom.
When Jiang Tian was with him, she acted as if they were friends.
After all, she needed the power provided by the county magistrate as an aid, and the county magistrate also needed her Huichuntang and pharmacy to establish a good reputation.
The two people are in a mutually beneficial relationship. If they continue to cooperate, wouldn't that be a win-win situation?
But the rumors circulating during this period have disrupted this balance.
"Mr. Jiang, I'm so sorry for not greeting you properly. May I ask what brings you here?"
The magistrate was quite handsome. His son was five years old this year. He got married when he was twenty, and is now only twenty-five.
He's at the prime of his life, and he's intelligent; he'll definitely rise even higher in the future.
Jiang Tian may have a high opinion of him, but that doesn't mean the two of them should have a romantic relationship.
"Are you aware of some of the rumors circulating recently?"
Jiang Tian was too lazy to beat around the bush with him.
Such rumors should have been extinguished as soon as they appeared, but now they are spreading more and more fiercely.
This would not have been possible without the tacit approval of certain individuals.
She came to the magistrate to make things clear to him.
The magistrate suppressed his smile and stared at Jiang Tian: "I am naturally aware of this. Mr. Jiang, there is no need to make a fuss. The people have just suffered from a severe drought and can barely fill their stomachs. It is better to let them care about other things than to have them frowning every day."
Jiang Tian smiled, but there was a hint of coldness in her smile: "As ordinary citizens of Anping County, we can see what you have done. I am just a commoner with no desire to curry favor with the powerful. These rumors are extremely detrimental to me and my son. If you could step forward and clarify things with some people, no one would talk about me and Chen'er anymore."
The magistrate's face turned cold: "What do you mean by this, Boss Jiang? Are you implying that I spread these rumors?"
He's already asked so many questions, there's no point in pretending not to know anymore.
Jiang Tian nodded: "If it weren't for you in Anping County, who else could have such ability? I don't know how you view me, but I'm already a widow and don't want to get involved with other men. I just want to live with Chen'er. Please, sir, show mercy."
The magistrate's face was now completely unpleasant to look at.
He never expected that Jiang Tian would react this way when faced with such a huge temptation.
If it were any other woman, she might have already been so happy that she secretly embroidered her wedding dress. But Jiang Tian actually came to him in person, and her words made him give up such a thought.
The magistrate stared intently at Jiang Tian.
It must be said, she is so beautiful it's almost bewitching.
He wasn't unaware that Jiang Tian was considerably older than him.
Her hair was cloud-like and her face was beautiful, with bright eyebrows and white teeth. Her face was exquisite and flawless, and her temperament was extremely unique. Her slender waist seemed so fragile that it could not bend.
Who would have guessed that she was already a woman who had given birth to children?
The magistrate knew his status and that he was worthy of the daughters of some officials. Moreover, he was still young and would rise further in a few years, at which point he would have even more options.
But if he were to encounter a rare beauty, yet have to let go, he would be unwilling to do so.
After thinking it over, he realized that he was also a widower. His wife had died in childbirth and left behind a child. Even if he remarried, he would not be able to find a better woman. He might as well find Jiang Tian.
She had her own child, but was just a businesswoman who needed to rely on him to survive in Anping County. He extended an olive branch, and she should have gladly accepted.
In order to get her opinion, the magistrate deliberately spread some rumors among the people so that she would understand his thoughts.
She was indeed exceptionally intelligent, immediately understanding the subtle meaning behind the words.
The magistrate thought she would go with the flow and express her feelings to him. Then he would formally marry her and make her his wife. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
But who would have thought that when Jiang Tian received this news, she would tell him that she was unwilling.
The magistrate was both disappointed and angry.
He looked at Jiang Tian and said, "I am so much better than that young master who abandoned you. You are raising your child alone in this chaotic world, and you will face countless dangers. If you were given the status of an official's wife, the situation would be very different."
"I think of you every single moment, I protect you, and this is how you treat me?!"
His words contained deep sadness.
The two had known each other for three years, and the magistrate thought they had developed some understanding, but now he realized that it was just wishful thinking on his part.
This woman is a tough nut to crack!
Jiang Tian smiled at him: "I am naturally very grateful for the magistrate's care for me. But I am just an ordinary person who only wants to live my own life. You will certainly not stop here in the future. You should choose a marriage that is beneficial to your career, treat your wife well, and raise Brother Lu well, instead of wasting your energy on someone like me."
"You make it sound nice, but you just don't want to agree to my request!"
The magistrate couldn't help but put his hand on Jiang Tian's shoulder: "Let me tell you, I had thought about marrying someone else before, but you've always been the one to tug at my heartstrings! We've been together for three years, I know your temperament, and I don't want to push things too far."
"I will go to your house tomorrow to present the betrothal gifts. I will do my best to provide them, and I will do a thousand times better than that young master. As for the wedding, let's do it in three days, which will be an auspicious day."
"Just stay home and wait to get married, don't think about anything else. ... If you overthink it, you might be the one who suffers."
"Chen'er is so young, yet so intelligent. He might even become a top scholar someday. If he knew that your momentary recklessness had ruined his career and even made it difficult for him to survive in this world—"
Do you think he'll resent you?
Jiang Tian immediately raised her head, and the magistrate's eyes were filled with determination.
To him, Jiang Tian was nothing more than an orphan girl, and he could easily get her in by using some tricks.
He tolerated it, didn't carry her into the house in a sedan chair, and was even willing to give her the status of a legal wife. She shouldn't be so rude!
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