Fang Qing watched as the people tidied up the house inside and out. It was almost dark when the government officials finally arrived. They checked Fang Qing's transfer documents and then chuckled, inviting Fang Qing and Zhao Shi'an to a restaurant to give them a proper welcome.
These people were nicer than the Prince of the South was this morning, but they were just being overly flattering.
"Let's skip the welcome dinner. We've had a long journey, and I'd like to rest with my husband. Tomorrow I'll go to the government office with some officials to inspect the farmland in Jiaozhou and discuss future crop cultivation plans."
"Alright, we'll wait for the County Magistrate at the yamen another day."
Fang Qing had Xiao Liu see the group out.
"The weather in Jiaozhou is not like that in the capital. It is still hot even after dark. I just mentioned that I would go to check the farmland tomorrow, and the officials almost couldn't keep their smiles. I guess they will all make up various excuses to avoid it tomorrow."
“I will go with you, and bring men with me. If they refuse, we’ll make them go even if we have to tie them up.”
Zhao Shi'an's tone sounded somewhat like he was coaxing him.
Fang Qing chuckled softly.
"Then the scene will probably be quite funny."
The weather was already quite hot the next morning, but it was still within Fang Qing's acceptable range.
She and Zhao Shi'an got into a carriage and went to the government office, but when they arrived at the main gate, the person who had promised to wait for her yesterday was nowhere to be seen.
Xiao Liu went to negotiate and returned to say, "Master, Madam, the yamen runner said that Prefect Qian is having diarrhea, Lord Sun's wife is about to give birth, Lord Li is visiting relatives, and Lord Zhou's concubine has run away with someone else. None of them can come over right now."
Fang Qing smiled and looked at Zhao Shi'an.
See? I knew this would be the result.
"Since you gentlemen are all busy, we will not insist."
Zhao Shi'an glanced at the entrance of the government office, gave Xiao Liu a look, and then let the carriage continue.
It was really hot. Fang Qing nudged the ice box in the carriage and said, "They're all so slippery."
"Don't worry, they'll definitely catch up with us within half an hour."
Fang Qing raised her eyebrows and looked at him.
"What did you send Xiao Liu to do?"
"It's nothing, just asking Xiao Liu to have a heart-to-heart talk with these adults."
Thinking of Fengyulou's original business, Fang Qing couldn't help but smile.
This is the only effective way to deal with this kind of person.
The carriage traveled out of the city.
It's not difficult to find a testing field here.
Fang Qing had already found a pretty good spot after strolling around two places in the carriage.
After walking for a while, Fang Qing and Zhao Shi'an were both tired. They rested in the shade of a tree when a carriage came speeding by. Fang Qing saw Lord Qian, who had been so attentive to her yesterday, get off the carriage and run quickly toward them.
"Lord Zhao, the Princess of the Ministry of Agriculture!"
Lord Qian rushed over, still out of breath.
Fang Qing's gaze fell on him, with a hint of mockery.
"Lord Qian, aren't you feeling unwell? You should be resting at home."
Lord Qian looked embarrassed.
“I wasn’t feeling well last night, but I’m all better now. That’s why I rushed over here, afraid of delaying the Princess of the Ministry of Agriculture.”
He had rushed here, and was covered in sweat; the back of his clothes was soaked through.
"Then, Lord Qian, go and take a look at the two plots of land I just selected, see which one is more suitable, and then give me an idea."
Looking at the bright sun outside the shade of the tree, Lord Qian's smile became even more awkward.
"The Princess of the Ministry of Agriculture..."
"What's wrong, Lord Qian? Are you still feeling unwell?"
"No, no, no, I'll go right now, I'll go right now."
He asked one of his men for an umbrella and crossed the bumpy dirt road.
He had just walked away when another carriage arrived, this time carrying Lord Sun.
"Princess of the County of Agriculture, Lord Zhao, I am late."
"Isn't Madam Sun about to give birth? Why isn't Lord Sun at home taking care of her?"
Lord Sun looked embarrassed.
"Haha, she hasn't given birth yet. It's all because that midwife pretended to know what she was doing, causing me to delay your business, Your Highness."
Lady Sun is only six months pregnant; she wouldn't give birth at this time.
Fang Qing did not expose his lie.
“Lord Sun, you’re not late. Lord Qian just went over there. Why don’t you go and take a look too? After you’ve seen these two plots of land, give me your opinion.”
"Yes, yes, I will go there right away."
Lord Sun didn't even have time to open his umbrella; he ran over there while wiping his sweat.
The climate in Jiaozhou was too hot; even when Zhao Shi'an held a fan to fan Fang Qing, it was still hot.
"Shall we rest in the carriage?" Zhao Shi'an asked.
Fang Qing shook her head.
"It's not that hot, let's wait and see what their opinion is."
Just as Fang Qing finished speaking, the sound of approaching hooves grew louder.
Then I saw Lord Li and Lord Zhou dismount their horses and rush over in a hurry.
The two of them were even more flustered than the two adults from before.
"Greetings, Princess Sinong. I am late and have kept you waiting."
Fang Qing's gaze fell on the two of them.
"Aren't you two gentlemen busy with other matters?"
The two adults looked extremely embarrassed.
"It's nothing serious, naturally it's not as important as the farmland as you, County Princess."
"Lord Qian and Lord Sun have already gone over there. You two should go and take a look as well."
The two officials quickly nodded and walked in the direction that Lord Qian and Lord Sun had gone.
If these four people flattered them yesterday, they now fear them.
"Looks like they've done quite a few bad things in their lives?"
Otherwise, how could they have been so easily manipulated?
"I have indeed done a lot of wrong things, but they are not serious crimes. Keeping them as leverage can serve as a warning."
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