Chapter 228
The county magistrate watched Qin Hongyun's retreating figure with sorrow.
That figure is always so upright, always giving people a sense of security, as if no matter what happens, as long as there is an adult there, it can be resolved.
Just like this disaster, the people had long since run out of food, but because the adults were there, they gritted their teeth and persevered until now, but only he knew that they really had no other way out.
Will this figure fall? The county magistrate suddenly felt a sense of fear.
They were afraid that the adults would fall ill, and they were also afraid that the people couldn't wait any longer.
What will people do when they can't survive? Will irrational people tear apart the adults who have disappointed them?
The county magistrate suddenly began to tremble. "I heard that the person in charge of transporting the disaster relief grain this time is a favorite of His Majesty, Lord Rong. Will she really bring the grain and travel such a long distance to come here?"
Anchang County is far from the capital, and they know very little about things in the capital.
However, they still heard some rumors about Rong Rong and Lord Rong.
A woman with no talent was unjustly appointed to a high-ranking official position and allowed to sit in court, but she did not accomplish anything after taking office.
The key point is that I heard there are many people in the court who fawn over her, try to please her, and even do a lot of absurd things for her.
All these pieces of information together make Lord Rong look exactly like a sycophantic and treacherous minister.
He was second only to the emperor and above all others, and could easily deceive the emperor, effectively controlling the entire realm.
Would she really deliver the disaster relief grain to such a wicked minister intact?
Surely not? Perhaps she'll take all the relief supplies for herself, and coming here is just a formality to fool the Empress.
After all, how could someone who is worshipped by so many officials be an honest official?
"You must not speak ill of important officials of the court!" Qin Hongyun warned, but he did not refute the county magistrate's words, his brows furrowed even more tightly.
Clearly, Qin Hongyun shared the same concerns as the county magistrate, but his years of upbringing prevented him from judging others before meeting them and understanding the facts.
"I feel so sorry for you, sir. You have studied hard for ten years and have no shortage of talent and ability, but you can only stay in a remote and poor place as a minor official of the seventh rank. Meanwhile, some people do nothing but become high-ranking officials of the first rank!"
The county magistrate was very dissatisfied, and his face even showed resentment. He seemed to be talking not only about Qin Hongyun, but also about himself.
Seeing that the county magistrate was getting louder and louder, Qin Hongyun quickly scolded him, "Mao Jing, watch your words!"
"The relief supplies probably won't arrive today, let's go first."
After saying this, Qin Hongyun turned to leave, but the county magistrate shouted with delight, "They're here! They're here! Someone's here!"
Qin Hongyun quickly turned around and saw a group of people appearing on the official road not far away. Who else could be coming here at this time, besides the disaster relief grain team?
"Great! We've got it! We've got it!" The county magistrate laughed wildly, but his laughter quickly stopped. "Where are the grain carts?"
Qin Hongyun's heart skipped a beat. He looked closely and saw that the group consisted of only one carriage and about ten guards, nothing else.
Such a team would never be carrying food.
Could it be someone else? Is this actually not Lord Rong's team?
Qin Hongyun comforted himself in this way, but soon the large banner with the character "容" (meaning "tolerance") on the carriage shattered his illusions.
However, there was no time for him to think further. In the blink of an eye, the carriage had arrived outside the city gate, and Qin Hongyun had no choice but to hurriedly go down to greet it with the county magistrate.
"Is this how people are welcomed in Anchang County? And adults have to wait?"
A cold, icy female voice rang out from inside the carriage.
Because Qin Hongyun was slow to get off the carriage and there was no one else guarding the entrance, the carriage was not welcomed in immediately, and the people inside felt slighted.
Qin Hongyun was astonished, but all the county officials had been sent by him to help the people, and there were truly no extra people left to come to the city gate to pick up people.
Qin Hongyun begged for mercy in a low voice. The county magistrate's eyes were full of resentment, but he dared not say a word.
"Hmph! Let's go, let's check out our accommodations first!"
The person on the carriage didn't even show their face; they just arrogantly uttered a sentence and then fell silent.
Immediately afterwards, Qin Hongyun led the person to the county government office.
Only then did the person in the carriage get off; he was dressed in fine clothes but looked disgusted.
After the other party had looked through the accommodations prepared by Qin Hongyun, he immediately flew into a rage.
"You've given us adults such a dilapidated place to live?" Yunxiang said angrily, hands on her hips.
"This humble official has no better lodging," Qin Hongyun said, bowing his head in apology. The county magistrate behind him also kept his head bowed.
No one could see the resentment and sorrow filling the county magistrate's eyes.
See? That Lord Rong is no pushover. Not only did he not bring any food, but he also nitpicked at them, complaining that they hadn't treated him well.
Was she really here for disaster relief? Or was she just here for sightseeing and to get by after a casual stroll?
Just as the county magistrate was filled with trepidation and Qin Hongyun felt a chill in his heart, someone suddenly burst in.
"Please come to my Yang residence to rest, Lord Rong. My master has prepared a fine banquet to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey!"
"You shameless bastard! Our Prince's Mansion arrived first, so of course Lord Rong should come to our Prince's Mansion!"
"Our Li family is the best! Our master has prepared a generous gift for Lord Rong, which I guarantee he will be pleased!"
......
Qin Hongyun's face turned ashen as he watched the group of people arguing heatedly.
These are all stewards of local wealthy merchants. When he visited them before, they were arrogant and didn't take him seriously at all. But now, they're practically groveling on the ground to lick his boots in order to win over Lord Rong.
That's right. Gaining Lord Rong's favor could mean a meteoric rise to power. Who wouldn't want that?
It's just a pity for the people of Anchang County; this time, they're truly beyond saving.
Qin Hongyun fell silent, his once resolute eyes suddenly losing their luster and becoming lifeless, while the county magistrate also hung his head.
Just when everyone thought Yunxiang would leave with the group of wealthy merchants' butlers, she unexpectedly started cursing.
"Get out! What kind of trash are you to dare covet my master? You even dream of my master going to your residence? Dream on!"
What kind of trash dares to come along?
"Guards, throw them out of here!"
At Yunxiang's command, the guards she brought drew their swords and drove the unruly stewards out.
When Yunxiang turned around again, she saw the county magistrate's wide-open mouth and Qin Hongyun's astonished gaze.
"What are you looking at? Hurry up and rearrange things, my family will be here soon!"
Yunxiang glared at the two idiots and directed the people she brought to unload things from the cart and rearrange the entire county government office inside and out.
When they ran out of supplies, they went to the streets to buy more, and soon the news that a group of generous spenders had appeared in Anchang County spread throughout the county.
The county magistrate stared wide-eyed, his face full of surprise, "Lord Rong hasn't arrived yet?"
She had just thought that the fierce-looking girl was Lord Rong.
"Nonsense!" Yunxiang rolled her eyes. She knew without a doubt that Anchang County government office must be extremely poor. How could she bear to see her master living in such a dilapidated place and suffering such humiliation?
So she secretly came ahead of time to prepare, so that her master could be comfortable at all times.
The county magistrate's eyes suddenly lit up. Lord Rong wasn't here, which meant the convoy that had arrived wasn't the one transporting relief grain. Then...
The county magistrate looked at Yunxiang expectantly, but Yunxiang snorted coldly, "Don't worry, the disaster relief grain will arrive soon."
"That's wonderful!" The county magistrate jumped for joy, and Qin Hongyun, who had overheard the entire conversation, also smiled.
Like the sky clearing after a rainstorm, the dark clouds that had been covering their faces all day finally began to dissipate.
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