Chapter 189: The Incident in Yinzhou, Zhang Ting's Fury...
A gentle breeze blows, and the leaves fall again and again in the woods.
The imperial relief grain arrived today. Zhang Ting was inspecting the disaster situation in other counties and didn't get to see the grain being stored in the granary. However, she can check the accounts when she gets back. The official duties piled up on her desk are too complicated, and she doesn't need to do everything herself.
On the way back after escorting several disaster victims who had taken advantage of the chaos to steal, Zhang Ting had some free time and couldn't help but recall the situation of interrogating the prisoner two days ago. The prisoner had explained that he was acting on the orders of the government and had even described the face of the person who gave the order in a vivid way.
This is nothing serious; we can simply have his portrait posted and bring him in for questioning.
However, after much deliberation, Zhang Ting felt that the person described by the prisoner seemed very familiar.
She sighed deeply and asked the clerk, "How much longer until we get back to the prefectural city?"
"Reporting to you, sir, it will take about half an hour."
Zhang Ting clicked her tongue in amazement and lowered the carriage curtain, thinking to herself: If the mountain road hadn't been so rugged, she would have mounted her horse and ridden away immediately, instead of waiting for so long.
The inconvenience of transportation in ancient times was a major obstacle, as traveling back and forth wasted a lot of time.
It wasn't until late afternoon that the sedan chair landed smoothly.
Magistrate Feng was already waiting respectfully, along with several minor officials.
As soon as Zhang Ting stepped out of the sedan chair, she came over with her entourage, smiling broadly: "Your Excellency is so busy with state affairs, it is truly a blessing for our Yinzhou Prefecture."
The minor official beside him quickly echoed his sentiments.
Everyone loves to hear nice things, and she had a good impression of Magistrate Feng, seeing him as a capable and perceptive person. "Lord Feng is no less capable. I received news on the way that the imperial relief grain has arrived. Can it be distributed to the people?"
Magistrate Feng, half a step behind her, bowed slightly as he replied, "Once the inventory was completed, the supplies were distributed to the disaster victims. You didn't see the situation then, but oh my, everyone was so grateful to the government and the court for saving their lives! Sir, you truly deserve to be renowned throughout the land for your flood control efforts. The disaster situation was stabilized so quickly, and everyone is deeply grateful for your kindness!"
"I won't mince words with you. In all my decades as an official, this is the first time I've seen an official so beloved by the people. He is truly a living benefactor of the people!"
Why hadn't I noticed the other day that Magistrate Feng's words were as sweet as honey? Zhang Ting smiled and led the group forward, jokingly saying to her, "Did Magistrate Feng pour three catties of malt sugar into his mouth today?" But in his heart, he didn't take it seriously. In official circles, boasting was just something to listen to and shouldn't be taken seriously.
The atmosphere was lively, and the minor official below chuckled twice upon hearing this.
Magistrate Feng scratched his head and smiled憨厚ly, "Don't disbelieve me. There's still one last batch of grain that hasn't been distributed yet. Please come with me to see it, and you'll see the truth."
"Oh? Lord Feng, please lead the way."
The group climbed a high hillside and looked down. Behind two constables were two large carts of grain. More than a hundred people, looking disheveled, lined up to receive their rice. Their grain bags were bulging, and they were all smiling happily. Some even set up fires nearby, cooked rice in pots, and held their full bowls of rice porridge, which were almost overflowing, and cried tears of gratitude to the imperial envoy for his benevolence.
The scene was truly moving; several minor officials couldn't help but sniffle and wipe their eyes.
Zhang Ting stepped forward, but he still felt that something was slightly strange about the scene. What was strange? The food was real, the disaster victims ate it, and they kept expressing their gratitude.
She pointed to the woman below who was holding a bowl and sobbing, and the child next to her, "Bring these two people up here so that I may observe the people's plight."
The minor officials exchanged knowing smiles. It wasn't that Lord Zhang was trying to understand the people's opinions; he clearly wanted to be praised by the common folk. Ah, that's only human nature, they all understood.
Magistrate Feng readily agreed and dispatched two constables to bring the man up.
The woman, holding a child, knelt on the ground and kowtowed, saying, "This humble subject greets all esteemed officials and wishes you good health."
Feng Tongzhi glanced at Zhang Ting and coughed lightly, "The Imperial Envoy summons you to answer questions."
The woman looked up, flattered, then lowered her head in fear and trepidation. "Greetings, Lord Zhang. Please ask whatever you wish. I will answer to the best of my knowledge." The child in her arms shifted, seemingly uneasy.
Judging from his height, Zhang Ting estimated he was about a year older than her son, "The child must be about two years old, right?"
The woman hugged the child tighter and replied, "Yes, sir, he is over four years old."
Zhang Ting paused for a moment, then told her to stand up and reply, "I was just asking casually to inquire about the people's situation. There's no need to be nervous. Once the flood recedes and crops are replanted in Yinzhou Prefecture, your family will surely be well-off and have enough to eat."
The woman stood up as instructed, but dared not raise her head. Her hands trembled slightly. "Lord Zhang, you are right. We, the common people, are all relying on you to eliminate the floods."
Zhang Ting: "Where is your husband?"
The woman held the child even tighter, causing the toddler to cry out in pain, and her expression changed drastically.
Magistrate Feng frowned and rebuked him sternly: "If you have any grievances before Your Excellency, you should speak them directly. Why are you behaving so anxiously?"
The woman was so frightened that she knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly. "My husband has delivered grain to our parents at home. The water on the way is swift, which is why I was worried. Please forgive me, Your Excellency."
This statement was clearly concealing something, but the aggrieved party remained silent, leaving Magistrate Feng helpless. She turned to Zhang Ting and asked, "What do you think, Your Excellency?" Knowing the other party's upright character, she assumed that Magistrate Feng would press him further for answers.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Ting waved his hand dismissively, saying, "It's alright, get up. Let's just chat casually." He then changed the subject, asking how the woman would manage the fields after the flood control efforts.
Listen to her envision her future plans and how her family will be well-off.
The hearts of everyone present seemed to be soothed by this beautiful vision, and smiles appeared on their faces.
Zhang Ting suddenly asked, "What did you eat for lunch?"
The woman was stunned, not understanding: "I drank half a bowl of thin porridge."
Feng Tongzhi's face turned deathly pale, and his back was covered in cold sweat.
“Half a bowl…” Zhang Ting chewed on the word, then turned his gaze to Feng Tongzhi, “If the disaster victims hear that food will be distributed today, will they only eat half a bowl for lunch? What will they do with the other half bowl?”
"Prefect Feng, what do you say?"
Feng Tongzhi's forehead was covered in beads of sweat. "Perhaps the news of the grain distribution was delayed. The floods were severe, and the news was inevitably delayed. My lord... there's nothing we can do about it."
Zhang Ting pursed his lips, seemingly dissatisfied with the answer, and looked at the group of minor officials, asking curiously, "What do you all think?"
The minor officials, unfamiliar with matters of grain, were bewildered upon hearing this. But upon hearing their superior's reply, they all stammered in agreement: "That is indeed the case. The grain has only been in our prefecture for less than a day, so it is inevitable that some messages will not be properly relayed."
Zhang Ting lowered his head and looked at the trembling woman kneeling below. "You have directly stated my surname, so you probably know something about my deeds. I have always been fair in rewarding and punishing, and if I encounter any officials who harm or coerce the people, I will punish them severely without leniency."
"I'll ask you one more question: where is your husband now?"
A cold, oppressive atmosphere suddenly erupted, like an invisible hand gripping the throats of everyone present, causing a deep sense of suffocation in their chests.
The child trembled and burst into tears, desperately trying to shrink into his mother's arms. No amount of coaxing could stop the crying.
Zhang Ting chuckled to herself. Everyone says she's beautiful, so how did she manage to scare the child to tears?
Under immense pressure, the woman mustered her courage and looked up at her. The woman before her was dressed in a blue official robe with a white pheasant embroidered on her chest. She had a refined and dignified appearance, exuding an aura of righteousness that made people admire her.
The woman burst into tears instantly, crying out in despair, "My lord! Lord Zhang!!"
“These cannibalistic corrupt officials took my husband away and are threatening me to deceive you according to their wishes. If anything goes wrong, my family will be killed on the spot!”
The woman, holding her child, cried and kowtowed to her, pleading, "My husband has given the little soup he has to the child. He has barely eaten anything these past few days and is on the verge of collapse. Please, Lord Zhang, save him!"
Zhang Ting shook his head helplessly and sighed, "Did you hear that, Lord Feng? Release them all at once." The waters of Yinzhou Prefecture are truly murky.
Feng Tongzhi was initially terrified, but seeing that she was not angry, he felt that there might be a chance. He wiped his sweat and hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, yes!" He summoned a few yamen runners and ordered them to release the people.
She said with a fawning smile, "Lord Zhang is insightful and discerning, truly a world-renowned talent. We are all in awe." She then knelt down in fear, "Today's events are entirely due to my ambition and desire to show off in front of you. Please forgive me for following you in your flood control efforts, even if I haven't achieved anything, I have still worked hard."
The minor officials also spoke up for Magistrate Feng: "Lord Zhang, Magistrate Feng is a reliable official. She was just confused for a moment. Please forgive her, sir."
"Handling things properly?" Zhang Ting suddenly smiled slightly, quite moved. "Have I been too harsh on you, Lord Feng?"
Feng Tongzhi was secretly delighted and chuckled twice, "No, no, I dare not, I will do as you please, sir." He breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he could get away with this today. The pressure disappeared instantly, and he couldn't help but straighten his knees and stand up.
"Whoosh—" A flash of silver light appeared, and the cold, gleaming blade reflected Feng Tongzhi's smug face. Her eyes widened, and the sharp weapon at her neck emitted a chilling glint, enough to make one lose their soul.
“My…my lord…” Magistrate Feng’s eyes were filled with fear, his legs trembled, and he slumped back to his original spot.
Zhang Ting pressed the cold sword against her neck, seemingly helpless, "I told you to get up? Then get up."
"Lord Feng, I am still interrogating you."
Magistrate Feng was nearly scared to death. He wanted to get away from the deadly weapon at his neck but dared not, and was on the verge of tears, "I... Your Excellency... Please don't scare me, I can't take it..."
Seeing that things were not going well, the minor officials all knelt down on the ground, trembling with fear.
"Where did I scare you? Lord Feng, you're the one who gave me a huge fright, okay?" She pinched her temples, her head aching. "It's been so long since anyone dared to trick me like this, to treat me like a fool."
She brought her face closer, tapped Feng Tongzhi's cheek with her sword, and asked with great confusion, "Do I look stupid to you?"
The next instant, her calm expression cracked, and a cold killing intent brewed in her dark eyes. A powerful and chilling aura poured out, unstoppable, making the air as solid as lead, making every breath thick and difficult.
"If you commissioned this play, where did the grain that should have been distributed to the people go?"
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