Since hearing that a distinguished person from the capital was going to inspect Yuzhou City, Magistrate Cao has not had a good night's sleep.
Yuzhou City, also known as Haicheng, is adjacent to the sea, but it has never been favored by the officials in the capital. Over the years, the people of Yuzhou City have lived a mediocre life, which has prevented him, the magistrate of Guyang County, from having any opportunity for promotion.
Just three months ago, he received reliable news from his mentor, who had sent someone from afar: the imperial court planned to build a port in Yuzhou City for ships to unload and transport goods. To put it more bluntly, a wharf was to be built in a coastal county town in Yuzhou City, where ships could load and unload cargo and purchase supplies.
To put it more clearly, the construction of the port will increase tax revenue for the county, bring more business opportunities, boost economic development, and improve the quality of life for the people.
In this way, how could he, as the county magistrate, possibly have any worries about not having good performance?
What Young Master Li? He is clearly Li Minghe, the heir of the Marquis of Qingyang, traveling incognito. As for that Young Master Fu, he is Fu Qiyuan, the top scholar of this year's imperial examination, the legitimate son that the Minister had finally found three years ago!
These two important people probably think he's a fool!
However, the tasks assigned to these two important people were not easy to handle.
Young Master Fu is looking for a missing old friend who has no name, identity, or background, while Young Master Li is a well-known foodie who has eaten his way from north to south and knows everyone!
He invited the most famous chefs from the restaurants in Guyang County, each with their own ambitious ideas, but so far they haven't managed to put together a decent meal.
Magistrate Cao had no choice but to personally go to the kitchen to supervise.
In the study, Li Minghe, the heir of the Marquis of Qingyang, said listlessly, "You really aren't going back? Your mother is really worried this time. She even asked someone to come to me, begging me to bring you back no matter what!"
Fu Qiyuan smiled bitterly: "I finally got a clue, but it suddenly disappeared here. I feel like I've overlooked something! I have a feeling that this is the place where I used to live. I want to stay a few more days. I must find the family that raised me."
Li Minghe shrugged. "You're right. Maybe if we walk around and look at things more, it might remind you."
Then, with a grin, he said, "Anyway, we're both in Yuzhou City, so you have to help me! If I don't do something this time, my father really won't let me go out again! You're the top scholar in this imperial examination, personally selected by the Emperor, and the eldest son of the Minister of Works. These little things shouldn't be too difficult for you, right? Besides, we're relatives, and I'm your elder!"
Speaking of this, Li Minghe was really proud!
His half-sister was Minister Fu's concubine, which made him Fu Qiyuan's elder. Why not take advantage of this opportunity?
Although Minister Fu's wife fought fiercely with his half-sister after finding their legitimate son, it did not affect their revolutionary friendship; they hit it off immediately.
That's why the Minister's wife asked her mortal enemy's younger brother to help her bring her son back.
Mentioning his mother inevitably gave Fu Qiyuan another headache, and he couldn't help but think of the troublesome issues at home.
His mother only had one son, and because she had no other children and was not valued by her father, she had been constantly overshadowed by the concubines in the household. After enduring so much resentment for so many years, she was finally able to vent her anger after finding her legitimate son!
Now it's not just his mother and Aunt Li fighting over him anymore; even his half-brother has shown his sharp claws.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but let out another bitter laugh.
At the same moment, Fu Ting, the Minister of Works, far away in the capital, was looking at the woman in front of him with a sullen face and no expression, feeling a wave of disgust in his heart.
"My lord, it's fine if you don't like me, and I've accepted all these years of favoring your concubines over your wife and letting that wretched woman trample on me and act arrogantly, because I can't bear a son. But now Yuan'er has returned, and he is your legitimate son. Are you only happy if you let that mother and son harm my Yuan'er? Don't forget, he is the top scholar in this imperial examination personally appointed by His Majesty. If anything happens to him...!"
"Shut up!" Fu Ting, unable to bear it any longer, slammed his hand on the coffee table, causing tea to spill all over the floor.
"When have I ever condoned Li Shi and Chen'er's attempts to harm Yuan'er? He just wanted to find the family that raised him. I also erased all traces as you wished. What are you still worried about? When will this ever end!"
The Minister's wife, Madam Fu Cheng, curled her lips in a mocking smile, and a flame slowly gathered in her eyes.
The man before her had been the apple of her eye since she was fifteen. She married him by any means necessary, never imagining she would become a thorn in his side. After finally giving birth to a son, he took a concubine, dealing her a devastating blow.
She was unwilling to accept this. In order to compete with that vile woman for favor, she even neglected her frail and sickly son, allowing him to be stolen right under her nose.
She suffered from regret and resentment for more than a decade, which gradually wore away her self-esteem and pride.
Heaven has eyes! She found her Yuan'er and her hope. This time, she will get back everything that she and her son lost!
"Don't tell me you don't know Fu Qichen also went to Yuzhou City. What is he trying to do? Does he want to help Yuan'er find that family? I think he wants to ruin Yuan'er's reputation, right? If Yuan'er was indeed stolen by that family, can he use that to make a big fuss? Don't dream about it. As long as I'm here, no one can hurt my son!"
Fu Ting's temples throbbed, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
He owed his eldest son too much, and seeing the child grow up to be so talented and outstanding, he was naturally happy. He was even grateful from the bottom of his heart to the family that raised the child to adulthood.
However, Fu Chengshi's concerns were not unfounded. If the family that raised his son was the same one who had stolen the child, the consequences would be unimaginable and would inevitably harm his son. For the sake of his son's future, he went against his conscience and used his power to erase the past related to Yuan'er.
As for the little tricks that the illegitimate son secretly did behind his back, they naturally couldn't be hidden from him.
However, this child has been serving in the Imperial Guard for over a year and has already gained some influence, so it's not easy to completely eliminate him.
Let's give him a warning first, and then make other arrangements when Yuan'er comes back.
Thinking about it, he got up and walked outside.
"Where are you going?" Fu Cheng shouted as she chased after him.
Seeing her husband avoid her like the plague, she was filled with hatred. She stomped her feet and gritted her teeth, saying, "Someone, bring Li Shi here to serve me! Also, I'm going to the temple in a few days to fulfill a vow and pray for Yuan'er. Have Li Shi copy the Buddhist scriptures two hundred times and send them over!"
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