Knowing the situation, Gu Chi tactfully refrained from asking further questions.
His gaze returned to the intelligence report, his eyes filled with hesitation.
Qi Shan yawned wearily: "If Luan Gongyi really has ulterior motives, wouldn't dealing with him be as easy as turning your hand? How many people in this world can escape your scholarly ways? No matter what kind of demons or monsters they are, no thought can hide from you."
Gu Chi closed the letter in his hand again and put it back in its place: "It's rare to hear even a word of praise from you."
Qi Shan ignored this sarcastic remark.
Qiu Cheng's body lay in state at Tangyuan for seven days.
On the eighth day, they set off on their journey home.
Shen Tang kept his promise, dispatching an elite force to escort Qiu Cheng and his family. He appointed the eighth-rank official as the temporary commander, showing no concern that the man was a former official of Qiu Cheng, nor that he had never submitted to him. That day, many people came to pay their respects, most of them familiar faces. The eighth-rank official immediately recognized Luan Xin in the crowd, thinking to himself, "Sir, you have a good eye for people."
Although Shen Jun entered officialdom at a young age, he was meticulous in his actions and kept his word. It is likely that the good reputation he had previously been found to be true.
Even he couldn't help but feel a sense of goodwill towards her.
Luan Xin watched the funeral procession depart, his gaze fixed until it disappeared from sight. He stood there for a while, about to turn back to the government office, when he saw Shen Tang watching him from a few steps away. Luan Xin bowed and said, "Xin greets my lord."
Shen Tang helped him up: "He's out here, so there's no need for such formalities. I'm just here to see Wenyan off."
After all, if you're going to put on a show, you have to go all the way.
"...I just saw that everyone else had gone back, and you were still here, so I didn't bother you." Seeing that he was having difficulty walking, Shen Tang asked Luan Xin, "Why didn't I see any sedan chair bearers?"
Luan Xin replied, "There were no sedan chair bearers; they came on foot."
Shen Tang looked at his legs and frowned: "You walked here?"
"His leg is just lame, it's not gone."
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang knew that Luan Xin was a stubborn and proud person, and silently gave up the idea of calling a motorcycle to take him to the government office. She scratched her nose and suggested, "Does Gongyi want to go back to the government office now? If so, we can go together."
Luan Xin said softly, "I am not good at walking and my steps are slow. I am afraid that I will delay your business, my lord. You need not worry about me..."
Shen Tang smiled mischievously: "Sitting in front of that pile of official business all day long might cause hemorrhoids. Taking a break and being lazy is good for your physical and mental health. Anyway, with Yuan Liang and the others in the government office, even if I skip work for a day or two, the government office can still operate as usual."
Luan Xin: "..."
"Working overtime doesn't necessarily increase your pay, so it's not worth it."
Which office worker wouldn't try to slack off?
Shen Tang, mindful of Luan Xin's pace, strolled along slowly. Only by slowing her steps could she truly appreciate the city, scarred by countless battles. It was still early, and the streets were quiet, with only a few men and women leaning against dilapidated wooden doors, soliciting customers. Shen Tang's gaze fell on a spot, and Luan Xin followed. A young, lightly dressed courtesan beckoned to passersby. After a brief exchange, the courtesan affectionately linked arms with the passerby and led them into a narrow, dark alley.
Shen Tang sighed with regret: "This kind of trend is not good."
He added, "That old bastard Yancheng is deeply sinful."
The pleasures of the brothel were a major pillar of Xiaocheng's economy, especially before the war broke out four years ago. After several battles, the men and women who made a living from this scattered to all corners of the country.
Lacking skills to make a living and owning no arable land, yet still needing to eat, many were forced to return to their old ways, sinking deeper and deeper into poverty until death.
Luan Xin asked her, "What does my lord intend to do?"
Shen Tang replied without hesitation: "Naturally, we should let them return to normal life. Those who lack skills should be taught a trade, and those who can endure hardship should be put to work in the fields. It's always better to earn a living with your own hands than with your body. When they are young, they still have beauty and strength, and someone might be willing to pay for a moment of pleasure. But what about when they reach middle age? They will be old and faded, and their bodies will be weak. How will they make a living then?"
She sighed and looked away.
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. It seems that using one's looks to please others or make a living is not their true intention."
Luan Xin looked at Shen Tang as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Shen Tang asked him, "I heard that Gongyi's ancestors came from a prominent family. You are also from a distinguished family. Are you perhaps bothered by these people?"
Luan Xin always lagged behind Shen Tang: "I dare not presume to associate with the wealthy and powerful, not because I mind, but simply because it was unexpected."
What's the surprise?
Unexpectedly, Shen Tang had the time to consider these people's situation.
This highly profitable gray industry, though explicitly regulated by law, mostly grows wildly and unchecked, raking in money the more it's left unchecked. Ultimately, the upstream beneficiaries are the ones at the top, namely Shen Tang. It's important to know that these establishments of prostitution always pay the most and heaviest taxes, and even brothels can't escape them.
The more money they make, the more money the government can collect, right?
Although Shen Tang understood the deeper meaning in the words, she did not explain further.
She always preferred to prove herself through actions, not just by making empty promises. Just then, Luan Xin stepped into a puddle of sewage with his injured leg, splashing water onto Shen Tang's clothes. Shen Tang seized the opportunity to change the subject: "I have a question, and I wonder if Gongyi will mind: was your leg like this from birth, or did it develop later?"
"The day after tomorrow."
Shen Tang said, "Doctor Dong's medical skills are superb; he is a true master of medicine, and his skill level is in no way inferior to that of the Imperial Physician. When we return to Longwu County, let him take a look at you?"
"This is a chronic illness that I've had for years; it's incurable."
Shen Tang asked again, "How did you get hurt?"
Luan Xin said, "It was run over by a horse-drawn carriage."
Shen Tang was startled, but didn't press further. She had assumed it was a broken bone or something else, but hearing Luan Xin's words, she feared someone had deliberately harmed her. She apologized, "I didn't mean to offend you."
Luan Xin didn't seem to care: "It's all in the past."
The two fell silent again, and Shen Tang, who couldn't stand this kind of silence, thought for a moment and then changed the subject: "Speaking of which, it's been a while since we started talking about justice, are you getting used to it?"
Luan Xin said, "I am still getting used to it."
After a moment of silence, he said again, "It will still take time."
It was actually much more tragic than Shen Tang had imagined.
Shen Tang transferred him to the Household Affairs Bureau. Although he was immediately appointed as a Household Affairs Clerk, his job duties included agriculture, sericulture, and sacrifices. Every now and then, he would also have to do part-time work at the Water Affairs Bureau, which was in charge of water conservancy. These were all his weaknesses.
The focus of our work is still on agriculture and sericulture.
Anyone associated with agriculture and sericulture is associated with him.
He had never worked in the fields in his entire life.
"Your appointment as Registrar of Households is also due to your scholarly approach. If used wisely, it can alleviate the famine. Lingde will arrive in a few days. Lingde is Wuhui's disciple. Don't underestimate her because of her young age; she is quite experienced and currently serves as Registrar of Households in Longwu County. If the two of you can cooperate, the budget allocated to the Registrar of Households by the government will definitely be the largest. This matter concerns the food supply of hundreds of thousands of commoners in three counties. Do you understand justice? If there are any difficulties, please let us know, and the government will do everything it can to help."
She paused as she spoke.
"If everyone can have enough to eat, I will thank you."
Luan Xin's usually calm eyes rippled slightly, and he said with feigned trepidation, "I am unworthy of such praise."
“You are worthy of it, and you are worthy of your scholarly way. Others think it is a weapon on the battlefield, but I don’t think so. It is clearly a lifeline, a divine skill! It allows us mortals to no longer fear drought, to no longer depend on the weather for our livelihood, and even to be able to fight against the heavens!” Shen Tang said, then suddenly remembered something, “Speaking of which, Sibao County suffered a severe drought last year, and this year there was no harvest at all… Wenyan Gong is confused, letting such a great talent go to waste.”
Shen Tang wanted to slap his thigh!
That idiot is a complete novice; he has eyes but can't recognize a gem.
On second thought, given the current state of affairs, scholars and martial artists were considered superior, untouched by the mud of the fields. And Qiu Wenyan wasn't the only one. Shen Tang inwardly scoffed. Tsk, serves her right for ultimately benefiting.
Your great talent will be put to use!
A clear look of pleasure appeared on his face, and his eyebrows and eyes relaxed subtly.
Luan Xin said gently, "I fear I will fail to live up to the lord's high expectations."
I believe in you! You must believe in yourself too!
A body weighing just over 100 pounds can yield over 1,000 pounds of oil!
A few days later, Luan Xin figured things out and gradually got the hang of it.
The clerk of the Household Department brought someone in from outside.
Young and beautiful, he wore a grass-green round-necked wide robe, with a belt around his waist, and a peach-red monogram and a seal of the Ministry of Revenue.
Luan Xin looked at the other person and fell silent, then turned to look at the sky outside. First Miao Shu, then the lord, and now a female ruler with a literary mind... Isn't this happening too fast?
What is your name, colleague?
"My name is Lin Feng, courtesy name Lingde. I have met with Luan Hucao."
_(:з」∠)_
I'm late with today's update.
My dad went drinking and got really drunk, and none of his tablemates took him home. He came back by himself, and in his dazed state, he called his family, but couldn't find their exact location. He searched for a while, which made things difficult... Sigh, thinking about it now, it's scary. If he had slept outside all night, given the current nighttime temperature, we'd probably be having a feast at home by now...
I'll add some more to make it 500 words.
PS: It's been fixed.
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