Chapter 63 Jealousy
The imperial court allocated 300,000 taels of silver for disaster relief.
This left the affected areas feeling disheartened.
Three hundred thousand taels of silver, divided among three prefectures, is hardly enough.
Not to mention that the one who received the imperial decree to provide disaster relief was none other than the famous Wind Blows By.
It means that even if the wind blows a leaf to him, he will have it played with at home.
It's hard to say how much of that money will actually reach the disaster area.
Anyway, something is better than nothing.
In fact, many officials in the area surrounding Huizhou believed that the emperor would not allocate funds.
Therefore, they were extremely disgusted by Prefect Zhao's behavior.
Because of his own selfishness, he ruined the livelihoods of three prefectures.
With Prefect Su's abilities.
If she were to allocate the funds, the grain that 300,000 taels could buy would definitely save many more lives.
Fortunately, Prefect Su asked the Hua and Ye families to donate money, and I heard that more than 300,000 taels of silver were raised, and the Ye family was asked to buy grain.
They also contributed some of the old grain from their Guangyue Mansion.
At times like these, forget about stored grain; just being able to eat is a blessing.
One was disaster relief in the capital.
One was that the Guangyue Prefecture donated grain, but people were even more eager for grain from the local areas, which was quite rare.
Prefect Su of Guangyue Prefecture did not disappoint them.
In late October, the first batch of grain was shipped out one after another.
Although the Ye family donated less money than the Hua family, they contributed significantly more effort.
His family knew the situation in the Huizhou area better, and the shopkeepers in various places also knew which areas were severely affected by the disaster.
With this information, Su Qing was able to transport the grain over much faster.
In addition to Lao Du, the deputy head of the household affairs department of the prefectural government, they also found Wang He, a newly promoted scholar this year, and asked him to go along.
Wang He, who was working at home and waiting to be assigned an official, was somewhat dumbfounded.
How could he not be happy to be suddenly given an important position by the prefect?
Anyway, he wasn't planning to continue taking the imperial examinations, so going out on official business now would give him a chance to meet people in the officialdom.
Su Qing's actions were also intended to test his abilities and character.
Ask Lao Du to help me take a look at his specific situation.
After arranging the manpower, they set off immediately.
Before November, they rushed to the most severely affected areas to provide porridge and medicine to the local people.
Soon, the reputation of Guangyuefu spread.
But it was suppressed again for a time.
Because the disaster relief grain from the capital was about to arrive, it was said that "Feng Guaguo" was temporarily replaced by a relatively honest official.
As for the Emperor's reaction?
It was clearly stated in Eunuch Liang's letter.
Lord Su!
You're so foolish!
I know you mean well, but you can't do things like this.
The emperor was displeased that they had raised funds for disaster relief ahead of time.
We had no choice but to allocate the money as soon as possible.
You spend money and still get treated badly; who can stand that?
You acted so quickly, and the disaster relief food and medicine were prepared properly.
Do you know how the people in the Jiangnan region praise you?
Do you know your current reputation?
It completely covered the emperor!
Can the Emperor tolerate this?
They quickly changed the disaster relief personnel, and the process was swifter.
The people there are safe now.
And you?
Are you out of your mind?
It's already November.
I'm about to go to the capital to report on my duties, and at this crucial juncture, I risk offending the Emperor and Prefect Zhao.
Are you tired of living?
Eunuch Liang said so, and Palace Attendant Qi thought the same thing. He even advised Su Qing not to bring Yunxi and Lülan to the capital.
As for Gu Congsi, needless to say, although he spoke tactfully, he also said not to do it.
Even General Yan, whom they hadn't been in contact with for a long time, sent a message.
No, he's no longer General Yan; now he should be addressed as Prince Zheng.
They only held some sinecure positions in the Ministry of War, without being responsible for any specific tasks.
He relinquished his military power just last month.
Yan Zhengzhou briefly mentioned the matter in his letter, but added more details about the Empress Dowager's thoughts.
The Empress Dowager was naturally equally dissatisfied with Su Qing's actions.
But he didn't say much, and even seemed somewhat protective of her.
I won't say anything more.
Finally, it was mentioned that Su Qing's fiancé, Gu Juren, was very popular in the capital.
Remind her to be careful.
Upon seeing this sentence, Su Qing almost burst out laughing, then noticed that the Empress Dowager seemed to be protecting her.
The Empress Dowager's thoughts are also quite intriguing.
Collect all the letters; burn what should be burned and store what should be stored.
I'm not going to the capital to report on my work until next month, what's there to be afraid of?
Besides, given the emperor's personality, is there really anything he can do?
Su Qing felt that this matter was difficult to discuss.
Yunxi Lulan finished tidying up the letters and then picked up the letter from the prefect of Shanyang Prefecture: "Sir, where is this letter?"
Su Qing said directly, "Take them apart and read them to me."
She'd like to hear what new tricks they might have up their sleeve.
Sure enough, it's the same old routine.
They even said that some women wanted to go to Nanjiang County to take the children's examination, which infuriated the prefect.
Su Qing just smiled and said, "It's a pity that the household registration is different. Only men and women from Nanjiang County can take the exam in Nanjiang County."
Anything related to borrowing a household registration is strictly prohibited.
After all, this is just the beginning; we can't let things get too out of hand.
After finishing these errands, Su Qing set off for the weapons workshop.
To be precise, we went to the Institute of Reform.
Let's see how much the iron smelting technology has improved.
The weapons workshop was still managed by Manager Jiang, Craftsman Dou, and Master Gong.
Manager Jiang was in charge of the day-to-day operations, while the latter two were responsible for the technical aspects.
"Sales of farm tools are indeed stable, but they only cover labor costs, and the profit is really not much," Manager Jiang said with distress. "The price of pig iron has been rising all the way, and there's nothing we can do about it."
“I also sent someone to check the accounts at the workshop managed by the second young lady of the Hua family in Guangxio County. The price they paid for the ore was indeed very high.”
After Manager Jiang finished explaining in detail, his face was full of worry.
Because of rising pig iron prices, selling farm tools is barely enough to cover expenses.
Compared to the previous one-sided investment, things seem to be better?
Actually, that's not the case; there's also the Institute of Reform.
The expenses of the Institute of Innovation are far too high.
The Ministry of Finance allocated several hundred thousand taels of silver, all of which was invested in research and development.
Su Qing provided the blueprints for the steam engine, but finding suitable materials to build it was like finding a needle in a haystack.
Only through the tireless experiments of craftsmen like Dou could a suitable object be found.
This is still based on the fact that the two people are experienced and have strong hands-on skills.
Su Qing is definitely not in a hurry.
Such a thing cannot be researched and developed in a short period of time.
She was also prepared for the battle to drag on.
So at this moment, it was Su Qing who comforted Manager Jiang: "Don't worry, we never intended to make a profit so quickly after building this workshop."
"Building something new will definitely cost money in the early stages."
But Manager Jiang was not convinced.
None of the businesses he manages have suffered such severe losses.
"It's all because of the rising price of iron ore. Shanyang Prefecture knew we needed iron ore, so they raised the price to an inflated level. It's infuriating!" Manager Jiang was practically cursing.
Su Qing smiled: "Perhaps soon, the price of ore will come down."
Will it?
Manager Jiang was puzzled.
Our Guangyue Prefecture doesn't produce iron ore; the nearest mine is in Shanyang Prefecture.
If we don't buy from them, where can we purchase them from?
Su Qing didn't say anything more and went directly to the Institute of Reform.
Even before getting close, you can see all sorts of strange materials piled up in the yard.
Various types of leather, grease, wood, and iron products.
In short, all the natural materials you can think of are available here.
The principle of a steam engine is not difficult to understand.
Even the overall shape is not a problem.
However, the materials used for various joints present a significant challenge.
They even managed to get their hands on expensive cowhide and bear hide, intending to use them for the piston connection.
The result was not as expected.
When they met Prefect Su, everyone felt somewhat guilty.
We've provided the blueprints, yet their progress remains so slow. We are truly sorry, Lord Su.
Su Qing looked at the current steam engine and said, "The conversion rate is still too low."
The conversion rate of heat to energy is too low.
It burns a lot of fuel, but the resulting power is insufficient.
It's even less than traditional boilers.
Therefore, it is completely unusable.
"Yes, something must have gone wrong."
"Logically, this shouldn't be the case."
Su Qing also saw extremely complex mathematical formulas, all written by Master Gong and his students.
But by the end, it was clear that many questions remained unanswered.
Su Qing had long forgotten her math skills and could only get a rough idea of what she was doing.
Even so, it still surprised Master Gong.
As for the others, they couldn't understand it at all.
Thinking of this, Master Gong suddenly said, "Sir, are you going to the capital next month?"
Su Qing nodded.
Master Gong immediately wrote down an address, but then felt it wasn't dignified enough, so he scratched his head and said, "Sir, there is a great talent living in seclusion in the suburbs of the capital. He is extremely proficient in mathematics."
"He just doesn't accept letters or communicate with people."
"When you go to the capital to report on your work, could you send this question with you and see if they are interested? If they can solve it, it will definitely be beneficial to your research."
A math genius?
Su Qing readily agreed: "Okay, you can write the letter and send it directly to the government office."
Master Gong was even happier.
He really enjoyed communicating with officials like Prefect Su.
If it's something they can do, they'll definitely help.
Ah, if only the court were full of people like Lord Su.
If Shunchang Kingdom had existed then, it would never be like it is today.
Just like Shanyang Prefecture.
What kind of official are they who only know how to make money?
If it weren't for them, the weapons workshop wouldn't be in such dire straits.
Craftsman Dou shared the same idea.
Before long, Yunxi and Lvyun joined in, and Steward Jiang also stood up and joined the group that denounced Shanyang Prefecture.
They even dared to say that their prefect was bad; it's truly despicable.
Su Qing wanted to laugh but couldn't. She could only walk around the workshop before riding her horse back to the city.
In November, Fucheng Street was as usual.
Everyone cherished the peaceful days after the war.
Just like in the Huizhou area, they cherish food exceptionally.
The floodwaters have receded, and life must go on.
They are rebuilding their homes by providing porridge and medicine.
It's just that everyone has a tacit understanding.
If you want to get a full meal, you have to go to the Guang Le Fu porridge stall early to queue up.
The porridge there is very thick, and they also give you medicine every two days.
If you queue too late, you'll have to go to a soup kitchen in the capital.
The porridge there was very thin, and there was no medicine.
The official in charge of the soup kitchens in the capital frowned deeply, his face looking extremely grim.
Listening to the common people's jingles mocking the capital, he said, "Try to keep it a secret and don't let the capital know."
This official was appointed to a critical mission to provide disaster relief in the Huizhou area.
Three hundred thousand taels of silver is a lot for ordinary people.
However, when it comes to disaster relief, it's just a drop in the ocean; to survive until the next harvest, they can only try their best to save money.
Moreover, when purchasing grain, his subordinates tampered with the grain, resulting in the purchase of overpriced grain. Although the grain was recovered, a considerable loss was still incurred.
Du, the head of Guangyue Prefecture, and Wang He, a scholar, collaborated with the famous Ye family in Jiangnan, purchasing grain at excellent prices, achieving different results with the same amount of money.
Officials from both sides met frequently and always treated each other with great courtesy.
Director Du and his team adjusted the consistency of the relief porridge to reduce the disparity in consistency.
They did their best to keep it a secret from the capital.
To prevent the people's complaints about the capital from reaching the emperor's ears.
"But Prefect Zhao of Huizhou has some grudges against Prefect Su," the subordinate said cautiously. "Shall we go and talk to him?"
The official nodded: "He has a lot of leverage over him. Just pick one or two and we'll shut them up."
But that's all he can do.
I wonder if Prefect Zhao will say anything inappropriate when he goes to the capital to report on his duties at the end of the year.
Su Qing hadn't expected that the rumors circulating in the Jiangnan region would be covered up by everyone's combined efforts.
She had no dealings with that official and went to great lengths to do this out of pure kindness.
It can only be said that Shunchang Kingdom had many officials who served the country and its people, as well as many officials who wanted to do things for the people.
But the way the rulers act will influence the kind of subordinates they attract.
Therefore, these officials are basically not given important positions.
They were only arrested to take the blame when something went wrong unexpectedly.
This situation, ironically, makes it even more hateful.
I thought the people above were stupid, but they were not only stupid, they were also stupid and wicked, and had selfish motives.
Thanks to the combined efforts of all parties, the disaster in the Huizhou area was brought under control, and not too many people lost their lives.
As long as people are alive, everything can continue.
As the weather gradually turns colder, prefects and governors from various regions prepare to depart for the capital.
Those who live far away should set off earlier.
For places like Guangyue Prefecture and Shanyang Prefecture, setting off around the tenth of the twelfth lunar month is not considered too late, as long as they arrive at their destination before the twentieth.
After all, the entire New Year holiday will be spent in the capital.
Nobody was in a hurry to return home until after the first month of the lunar calendar.
In many places, the prefects of neighboring prefectures would even make appointments to travel together.
Su Qing's place was quiet, with no one inviting her.
It's not that people don't like her.
Rather, it was because some people in the capital disliked her behavior.
To protect yourself, it's best to stay away.
Su Qing naturally didn't care.
She simply made arrangements for her duties at the Guangyuefu before setting off.
Luo, the chief clerk, and Wu, the head of the household affairs department, were in the open, while Wei, the head of the clerks department, was in the shadows.
The former focuses on local finances, while the latter focuses on the conduct of local officials.
Even if she's not there, the performance evaluation still needs to be completed by the end of the year.
If anything happens, please send a letter to the capital at any time.
Pharmaceutical workshops in Nanjiang County and weapons workshops in the prefectural city also came to report on the situation again.
The pharmaceutical workshop in Nanjiang County was only established this year. It is mainly responsible for processing various medicinal materials and has already reached a certain scale.
Dr. Bai and Dr. Hao will still be in charge, and we should be able to turn a profit around next year.
Needless to say, the weapons workshop, the dozen or so difficult problems, and even the location of the math genius's house are all in Su Qing's possession.
Once I arrive in the capital, I will definitely look for it.
The rest concerns the situation in Gaoqing Prefecture.
After Fei Kaiyu left, he sent Lord Cui back to Yisong County.
He helped Wenrui change his identity, while he handled the official duties in Gaoqing Prefecture, and Wenrui went to investigate the situation of the nineteen mines.
Although the situation is complicated, they will receive them one by one.
Meanwhile, the officials around Wenrui were also dispersed by Su Qing to various places in Guangyue Prefecture, where they were already carrying out their duties.
After looking at it from all angles, the most troublesome thing is still the nineteen iron mines.
It goes without saying what minerals represent.
These remaining forces of the martial princes are certainly the most stubborn group.
Moreover, Gaoqing Prefecture did not have a real prefect, so it was difficult to use the power of the government to govern it.
It doesn't matter.
Soon someone went over.
Su Qing was very patient, telling Fei Kaiyu and Wen Rui to be careful and not to act rashly.
After finishing these matters, Su Qing looked at Yun Xi and Lü Lan.
Even if Qi, the palace official, hadn't said anything, he didn't intend to take them to the capital.
After all, there is bound to be danger going there this time.
Su Qing wanted to send them back to Nanjiang County.
It just so happens that Constable Wu is on his way to escort Prince Wu Yong to the capital, so he'll drop them off along the way.
But the two refused to leave no matter what. Green Orchid even said, "Sister Su, I'm fourteen years old this year. What's wrong with me going?"
Yunxi also said, "I'm already sixteen, why can't I go to the capital with you? Besides, if there's any danger, you'll be there to protect me."
They would never leave at a time like this.
Unfortunately, they couldn't be persuaded at all, and were directly loaded onto a cart by Constable Wu and sent back to Nanjiang County: "On the way, we are escorting Prince Wu Yong and those rebels. What are you two children doing getting involved?"
"Besides, I'm with you, so what's there to worry about? You'll just be causing trouble if you go over there."
Su Qingshen agreed.
She has made many enemies over there; who knows what she'll face this time she goes there.
However, she had many helpers, so there wasn't much danger.
Su Qing waited for Constable Wu to escort Prince Wu Yong and the others to the prefectural city.
Then they can set off.
On my first trip to the capital, I even passed by my hometown, Tongmin Prefecture.
Unfortunately, going to Zhao Town County in Tongmin Prefecture requires a long detour, so you can only go there on the return trip.
On the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Su Qing was waiting for the constables to bring the Martial Prince over.
Unexpectedly, a letter arrived, requesting the prefect to go to Nanjiang County immediately.
Prince Wuyong is dead.
He was killed.
Su Qing frowned as she finished reading the letter.
The matter was exceptionally simple.
Lord Harada, who had become a prison guard, heard that Constable Wu was coming to take away the rebel leader. So that night, he got the other prison guards drunk and used a knife from the prison to kill his enemy.
There were no fancy methods used; they simply killed him with a series of stabs.
Some knife wounds may not be fatal, but they will definitely cause bleeding.
It wasn't until the other jailers who took over discovered that the rebel leader, the emperor's uncle, was already dead.
Even so, Lord Tian continued to chop.
The scene was so intense that everyone who witnessed it vomited.
It's said that his brains and intestines spilled all over the ground.
Lord Tian's hatred was finally put to rest.
He threw the knife away and waited for the others to catch him.
The letter said that the other rebels were so frightened by what they heard that they dared not move, saying that Lord Tian was a pervert who tortured them every day and had now killed Prince Wuyong.
Logically speaking, Lord Tian drank too much in his younger years and his health had deteriorated, so how could he have killed Prince Wuyong?
But a year ago, these rebels were imprisoned in the dungeon of Nanjiang Prefecture, and Lord Tian became their jailer.
They weren't even given enough to eat, let alone water; they were only given basic vital signs.
They would also occasionally bring in non-lethal poisons and laxatives to feed to the rebels and others.
Severe torture was a common occurrence.
The prison guards all kept it a secret.
Countless family members of theirs died at the hands of these people; they should be grateful to be alive.
Prince Wu Yong was initially unconvinced.
He had long since given in to what had happened in the past year, only thinking of begging for mercy and hoping to take revenge one day when he returned to the capital.
Lord Tian, however, did not give him that opportunity.
The night before he was to return to the capital, he was killed in an extremely cruel manner.
Su Qing sighed and led his men to Nanjiang County. This matter needed to be addressed.
Even if Prince Wu Yong dies, his body must be brought to the capital.
As for the other rebels, they are now extremely obedient and can't wait to go to the capital.
Lord Tian, on the other hand, was to be taken to the capital in Prince Wuyong's prison cart to await trial by the imperial court.
Although there's not much to investigate, we'll take the person to the capital first.
Su Qing rushed to Nanjiang County and went to see Lord Tian as soon as possible.
Lord Tian appeared completely calm, his expression indifferent regardless of how many people were watching him.
But Su Qing had seen what he looked like before and knew that he was already at his last gasp.
"Everyone, disperse. Let Lord Tian get some rest."
Officer Wu was astonished.
Is this over?
Lord Natian will surely commit suicide.
Another constable standing next to Wu quietly tried to stop him.
Because more than one person noticed it.
Rather than sending Lord Tian to the capital for trial, it would be better to send him now.
He could leave with a complete body and be buried in Nanjiang County, alongside his family.
Sure enough, Lord Tian looked up, his eyes filled with gratitude.
Su Qing took a few steps forward and looked at the man who had lowered his head again.
Since she took charge, Lord Tian has been drinking heavily every day. If he doesn't drink for a day, he will think of his deceased wife, children and elderly parents.
After the war ended, he regained his composure and was able to continue serving as acting magistrate.
When war broke out again, he went mad and developed a deep hatred for the rebels.
It is likely that he was already dead when his entire family was killed by the rebels.
Only now that I can avenge my family can I truly feel alive again.
Thinking of this, Su Qing still couldn't bear it, so she squatted down and said to Lord Tian, "No, we still have to live."
"No matter what, staying alive is the most important thing."
There was nothing left for him to have a complete body, nor was there anything to bury him with his family.
Staying alive is the most important thing.
Tian Xian was shocked.
Lord Su!
Why did you suddenly change your mind?!
Su Qing not only changed his mind, but also said to those around him, "Make sure you take good care of Lord Tian and send him to the capital."
The people around immediately agreed, and everyone vowed to make sure nothing happened to Lord Tian!
Su Qing even asked Doctor Bai to come and prescribe medicine for Tian Xian, otherwise, with his health in such poor condition, how could he go to the capital?
They set off rather late and would have to travel day and night.
Of course, she also sent documents in advance, so the capital city probably already knew about the incident and could have a few days' notice.
Even so, Su Qing quickly disposed of Prince Wu Yong's body, placing it all in the coffin.
Fortunately, the weather is cold now, so there isn't much of a stench of corpses.
Otherwise, this trip would be truly exhausting.
Now that she was back here, Su Qing naturally bid farewell to Mei Niang and the others.
Before the twelfth day of the twelfth lunar month, he led everyone from Nanjiang County to the capital.
The group from the prefectural city joined them on the road.
When they arrived at Tongmin Prefecture, the two groups finally met.
Su Qing then realized that Hua Jingming, Qi Anping, and Hui Rong were also traveling with the city's delegation.
As the top three in the provincial examination of Guangyue Prefecture, the three of them had a good relationship.
Hua Jingming strongly invited the two of them to go to the capital in advance, where they could stay at his house and wait for the imperial examination next year.
Both Qi Anshou and Hui Rong came from poor families, so the Hua family covered all their exam expenses.
Therefore, the two gladly went.
Upon seeing the coffin of Prince Wuyong, the three men reacted differently.
But most of them were worried about Prefect Su.
Many people already disliked Su Qing, and now there's even more to say.
This was also one of the reasons why Hua Jingming set off early.
Since I know she'll be in trouble in the capital, I definitely have to come.
Moreover, he learned of his father's thoughts before setting off.
His father actually saw through his feelings for Su Qing.
They even encouraged him.
Thinking of this, Hua Jingming couldn't help but smile at Su Qing.
He was extremely attentive throughout the journey, almost like a personal servant to Su Qing.
Upon learning that she hadn't brought Yunxi and the others, he volunteered to be her attendant and run errands.
Chief Qi and Hui Rong looked puzzled.
Especially Hui Rong, he used to be under Lord Su's command, so if anyone was to be a clerk, it should be him.
The addition of people from the prefectural city made the procession more lively.
Lord Tian, who was placed in the prison cart of Prince Wuyong, was taken good care of by everyone.
Don't die, live!
There will always be an opportunity.
What made everyone happiest was that every time Tian Xian glanced at the coffin behind him, his mood would improve, and when he was in a better mood, he ate more.
This is probably what it feels like to have a great revenge taken.
The 22nd day of the 12th month of the fifth year of Yongsheng.
The people of Guangyuefu arrived two days later than the originally planned 20th of the twelfth lunar month.
All the other officials from various regions had arrived; she was the only one missing.
When Su Qing went to the Ministry of Personnel with Constable Wu to report for duty, the officials there gave her a bad look and said, "What a special prefect."
That's a strange statement.
They said Su Qing was the only woman, and they also mentioned that she was late.
Su Qing replied neither servilely nor arrogantly: "I already explained the reasons in my letter a few days ago."
The officials of the Ministry of Personnel all looked at her sideways.
Officials in the capital are different from those in local areas.
The Ministry of Personnel in the capital was different from other officials in the capital.
Few people dared to speak to officials of the Ministry of Personnel in such a manner.
Su Qing looked at it strangely.
She simply explained calmly, "These are all offensive?"
Does not flattering mean being impolite?
That's interesting.
Everyone hurried about their own business, but their eyes were still glancing at them out of the corner of their eyes.
Especially Su Qing.
This person is too famous.
Everyone knows him.
After leaving the Ministry of Personnel, Su Qing still felt a bit strange: "That Minister Yu from the Ministry of Personnel just now seemed a bit off."
Officer Wu also discovered it.
However, the two did not think much of it and went to the Ministry of Justice to report.
Apart from Lord Tian, the coffin of Prince Wuyong and the coffins of the other rebels were all handed over to the Ministry of Justice.
The fact that the officials who came to hand over the duties were even the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice shows how important it was.
However, he was quite disappointed to hear that Tian Xian, who had killed Prince Wuyong, had not been brought along.
The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice said, "Even if you wanted to protect him, you didn't have to be so obvious about it."
"Let's leave it to the Ministry of Justice. I assure you, no one will touch a hair on his head before the Emperor makes a decision."
As soon as she finished speaking, a familiar person flashed by and nodded at her.
That person was none other than Lian Feiyang.
It seems this was Yan Zhengzhou's idea.
Seeing that Prefect Su nodded, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice sent someone to bring Tian Xian over: "Keep him under separate guards, and let others approach him."
Su Qing was finally relieved and bid farewell to Constable Wu before leaving.
But after leaving the Ministry of Justice, the two men found the Ministry of Personnel's attitude even stranger, and pondered for a moment.
"Gu Congsi".
"Master Gu".
Could that Minister Yu from the Ministry of Personnel be the one who caught the groom after the imperial examination?
He followed Prefect Zhao to Huizhou back then, and now he's a high-ranking official in the capital?
“If it were his family, then this attitude wouldn’t be surprising.” Officer Wu couldn’t help but laugh. “Scholar Gu is also in the capital; I wonder how many times he would have to refuse.”
Su Qing remembered Yan Zhengzhou's reminder that Gu Congsi was very popular in the capital; it turned out he was referring to this matter.
Officer Wu added, "Let's hurry back to our lodgings. I wonder how the place the boss and the others found is."
When Officer Wu mentioned "the eldest," he was referring to his eldest son.
They were from the same hometown association in Beijing.
In the capital, each province of Shunchang had its own hometown association, which mainly consisted of mutual assistance among fellow townsmen.
The group was primarily led by government officials, wealthy merchants, and prominent local young people.
The hometown association of Guangyuefu in the capital did not have any high-ranking officials. It was headed by the Ministry of Revenue official mentioned last time. After Gu Congsi and the eldest son of the Wu family arrived, they were naturally among them, mediating matters large and small.
Su Qing and his group planned to stay from the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month until February of the following year, and asked their fellow townsmen association in Beijing to help them find accommodation.
Upon exiting the Ministry of Justice office, Fang Tuo, the official in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, was already waiting.
The Fang family was quite well-known in the counties under Guangyue Prefecture.
Fang Tuo had been running around dealing with many things in their hometown before, so Su Qing had corresponded with him.
They were not strangers to each other, and exchanged greetings.
Lord Fang said, "Did you see that person from the Ministry of Personnel? Don't worry about him. He still wants Scholar Gu to be his son-in-law, so he hates us."
Su Qing smiled without saying a word, and then heard the other party continue: "Chief Scholar Qi, Scholar Hua, and Scholar Hui have been settled."
"Coincidentally, the Hua family's house isn't far from the place Gu Congsi found. They're probably talking right now."
Su Qing thanked Lord Fang repeatedly, saying that with their help, she didn't have to worry about many things.
Upon arriving at their lodgings, they found them to be very close to the Hua family residence, making it convenient for attending court and conducting official business.
The people Su Qing brought also had a place to be settled.
Because they were escorting rebels, they brought forty or fifty people, a large number.
Fortunately, we need to go back before the New Year; otherwise, we would have to look for a larger courtyard.
The grand entrance of the Guangyuefu into the capital attracted considerable attention.
As for the news of Prince Wuyong's death, everyone has already discussed it.
Some even think that the emperor was quite pleased to hear about this, and didn't question the murderer too much.
"Of course, transporting them to the capital would be extremely troublesome. If we kill them, the rest of the royal family will definitely object; if we don't, the emperor will be restless day and night."
Dying before going to Beijing was the best option.
Prefect Zhao even said sourly, "Finally, Prefect Su has done a proper job."
This statement was so outrageous that local officials remained silent.
Suddenly, one of the prefects said, "Since we prefects and governors are gathered here, shall we invite Prefect Su to join us?"
More than two hundred prefects and governors from across the country came to the capital together for their year-end performance reviews.
When we meet up, we'll definitely get together.
Wouldn't it be awkward if we didn't invite Prefect Su?
Didn't you invite her to a banquet at your house recently?
The man shook his head.
What about your home?
He shook his head again.
There are too many things going on at Guangyuefu, and everyone knows it perfectly well.
Prefect Zhao is not a very good person, but what he just said was correct.
Although Prefect Su did many things during the war and contributed to the stability of the court.
However, her close relationship with the military, including overseeing logistics and weapons, inevitably raises suspicions.
In addition, the disaster relief efforts in Huizhou cost the emperor 300,000 taels of silver and caused him to lose face.
These will surely be remembered.
Besides, I heard that she has a very good relationship with Prince Zheng, and their handwriting is even somewhat similar.
The Emperor recognized the congratulatory letter that Su Qing had sent last year at a glance; the style of his calligraphy was somewhat similar to that of the Prince.
Everything else can be left unmentioned.
This matter, however, was a source of great concern for the Emperor.
Even though the emperor had secured his throne, it was difficult for even the empress dowager to stop his decisions.
However, he still had considerable worries about his younger brother.
It's because the emperor is in poor health and has no children.
It's impossible not to be wary of one's strong and powerful younger brother.
And there's another reason, which only a very few people know.
That is, Su Qing is a woman.
Upon hearing this, most people would say, "It's only natural to dislike Su Qing being a woman. What's wrong with that?"
“It’s not that I can’t stand it, it’s that I’m wary,” the man said directly. “Don’t forget, there’s a woman who wants to control the court.”
Empress Dowager.
The Emperor was able to suppress the powerful Prince Wuyong and ascend the throne thanks to the Empress Dowager's machinations.
Given this achievement, his grasp of the court is undoubtedly superior to that of the emperor.
Therefore, the emperor continued to hold more imperial examinations to cultivate his own power.
It was only in the last two years that the Empress Dowager relinquished power.
The Emperor didn't dislike that Su Qing was a woman.
They felt that women were also a threat.
Regardless of the reason.
In any case, most people don't like women holding official positions.
The prefects and governors from various regions were engaged in lively discussions.
They always say that women are gossipy, but they're not much better themselves.
Upon hearing that a woman had been appointed to an official position, the prefect of Shanyang Prefecture, who had remained silent until now, suddenly exclaimed, "If it weren't for her promoting some female official, how could Shanyang Prefecture have fallen into such a state of moral decay!"
ah?
Who is this?
"The prefect of Shanyang Prefecture, the acting magistrate under Su Qing named Zhu Fangjie, is from their area."
"I heard that many women in Zhu Fangjie's hometown of Huiming County are requesting that women be allowed to participate in the children's examination. The prefect of Shanyang Prefecture is furious about this."
Su Qing's existence inspired many women to aspire to become officials.
She had more than one female official under her command.
But both she and Wu Shanyue followed in their fathers' footsteps.
Only Zhu Fangjie.
He resisted an arranged marriage, started as a clerk, and has now become a county magistrate.
Women were allowed to participate in the children's examinations, and they were also under her jurisdiction.
Either way, it's absolutely heretical and has nothing to do with orthodoxy.
Ironically, this person is doing extremely well, with his family and friends showing him great support.
Despite being a woman, she was the backbone of the entire Zhu family.
How can one not hate or envy this?
Hatred and envy are two emotions that can coexist.
Everyone looked at the prefect of Shanyang Prefecture, and seeing that he was furious, they were even less inclined to call Su Qing over.
If I really want to see Su Qing, I'll either do it secretly or have a small get-together.
When the situation here was reported to Su Qing's temporary residence, the officials from Guangyue Prefecture were inevitably displeased.
They're clearly ostracizing our prefect!
Leaving aside other places, our people are still there providing disaster relief in the three prefectures of Huizhou, and you're not even going to invite them?
And that Shanyang Prefecture, I really don't understand you guys.
If our weapons workshop hadn't bought your ore, would we be living such a comfortable life?
Su Qing reassured everyone, "You've all had a long and tiring journey. We've only just arrived in the capital; there's a long road ahead."
"Everyone, let's take a rest."
The head constable arranged for people to take turns guarding the area, and some constables rested for two or three days before setting off back to Guangyue Prefecture.
After everything was arranged, Officer Wu turned to his eldest son.
His two sons joined the army in the first year of Yongsheng.
The eldest son is nineteen, and the youngest son is seventeen.
Now, one is twenty-three and the other is twenty-one, both holding official positions in the military.
Due to troop movements, the eldest son was in the capital, while the younger son was at the border.
Seeing my eldest son now evokes a very different feeling.
The father and son went to talk to him.
Only Su Qing, Gu Congsi, Hua Jingming, Qi Anping, and Hui Rong remained in the living room.
Hui Rong gave Hua Jingming and Qi Anshou a meaningful look.
Shall we go down and rest first?
The engaged couple hadn't seen each other for a long time.
From the second half of Yongsheng's third year to the end of the fifth year.
It's been two years since I last saw them.
He definitely couldn't accept being separated from his wife for two years.
Qi Anshou is easy to talk about.
On the contrary, Hua Jingming, who is usually very perceptive, couldn't be persuaded.
Hui Rong and Chief Qi left, turning back every few steps.
Only Su Qing and the other two remained.
Gu Congsi glanced at his friend.
Their correspondence continued uninterrupted. Although the number of letters decreased due to Hua Jingming's preparation for the exam, their friendship remained strong.
Hua Jingming felt increasingly uneasy looking at him.
Su Qing didn't mind that everyone was there, and simply said, "I've just arrived, and I already know about the situation in the capital."
"We are just waiting for the Emperor's summons."
Seeing that Hua Jingming was not leaving, Gu Congsi let it go and nodded, saying, "The first thing to ask is definitely about the death of Prince Wuyong and how Lord Tian will be dealt with."
This hurdle isn't too difficult.
The death of Prince Wuyong did indeed bring a sigh of relief to the Emperor.
The second and third things are the key.
Let's not talk about other messy rumors and gossip, or the Emperor's thoughts.
Most importantly, Zhu Fangjie was granted the position of county magistrate, and women were allowed to participate in the children's examinations.
Su Qing was able to become a county magistrate and a prefect back then.
It relied on favorable timing, location, and human factors.
Where is Zhu Fangjie?
With the war over, there are still so many successful candidates in the imperial examinations waiting to be appointed to official positions.
Why should we use her?
What makes her irreplaceable?
Why change the current hiring rules for her sake?
It's even more interesting that girls participate in the children's examinations.
The preliminary examinations were held at the county, prefectural, or provincial levels.
Only after passing all the tests can one obtain the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations), be recognized by the government, and even be allowed to enter an official school.
It appears to be just a children's test.
In reality, it opened a loophole in the imperial examination system.
Therefore...
These two things are the real challenges Su Qing faces.
If you didn't do it, then so be it.
I'm afraid the Emperor will hold him accountable for the death of Prince Wuyong as well.
Su Qing will have a hard time at the end of the year.
Gu Congsi was puzzled.
Why did Su Qing create problems for herself?
Even disaster relief efforts were carried out in the Huizhou area.
With her intelligence, she would have a better way to please the emperor and benefit the disaster victims.
As for Zhu Fangjie becoming the county magistrate and the girls taking the imperial examinations, it was trouble she brought upon herself.
She knew perfectly well that the Emperor would summon her at the end of the year, yet she still requested an official position for Zhu Fangjie and still had Nanjiang County change the rules for the children's examination.
We can take it slow.
These things aren't urgent.
Gu Congsi's disapproval surprised both Su Qing and Hua Jingming.
Three years ago, Gu Congsi would not have said such a thing.
Su Qing sized up the other person before slowly saying, "I will become the prefect of Guang Le Prefecture next August or September, which will be exactly three years."
After a three-year term, it's time to move on to another location.
She couldn't wait until next year.
Because it was impossible for Guangyuefu to allow her to continue operating.
The emperor's paranoia would certainly be unbearable.
Gu Congsi remained silent.
Su Qinghua and Jing Ming looked at him and realized that he, who was already indifferent to emotions, was now even more cold-faced and exuded a chilling aura.
Unlike Yan Zhengzhou's coldness, Yan Zhengzhou was more unapproachable.
Gu Congsi was more somber.
This isn't like him.
"How have you been doing in the capital these past few years?" Hua Jingming asked after a moment's thought, asking a question that Su Qing also wanted to know.
Gu Congsi stared at Su Qing: "Do you want to know?"
In an instant.
Hua Jingming realized that Su Qing had never asked the other party this question.
When you're far from home, this is the question you should ask most.
This further illustrates that the two actually have little contact in private.
This made Hua Jingming feel both secretly pleased and immediately filled with fear.
The current situation makes it even harder for him to speak.
The only good thing is that Su Qing is convinced that the two have broken off their engagement, and there is no possibility of this matter being changed.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have remained completely silent.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Su Qing paused for a moment, took a sip of water, and said, "Instructor Gu and his wife are both in good health, so don't worry. They're adapting well to the academy."
Su Qing was reminding him.
What happened back then was not my fault.
To put it bluntly, if we can't even manage things at home, how can we talk about the future?
She doesn't need to deal with these things.
As expected, Gu Congsi withdrew his gaze and became even more silent.
Su Qing was too lazy to say anything more and went straight back to her room to rest.
The hometown association hired maids and servants to help out in the house, and the main courtyard where she lived was managed very well.
Gu Congsi and Hua Jingming were left alone in the living room.
They each had their own ideas.
Hua Jingming sighed.
He wanted to explain his feelings.
But it's not a good time to bring it up now.
Sure enough, who would really let go of someone like Su Qing?
No matter what method they use, they will get it.
He didn't care even if he became enemies with his best friend.
Hua Jingming's expression turned slightly cold as he took his leave and returned home.
On my first day in the capital, my old friends and I parted on rather unpleasant terms.
Su Qing had a good night's sleep, much like most prefects and governors, either gathering with colleagues or waiting for the emperor's summons.
But with over two hundred state officials arriving together, she'll be the last one to arrive, so she'll definitely be at the very end of the line. There's no rush for now.
With nothing to do, I decided to take a stroll around Beijing.
Wu the constable and his men were too conspicuous, so Su Qing only took the maids from the courtyard with her when she went out.
Hua Jingming knew this and was determined to come along.
Qi, the chief investigator, also joined in.
Only Hui Rong was preparing for the exam at the Hua family home, saying that she had only average talent and could only work hard.
The capital city was indeed bustling, and Qi Anping was dazzled by what he saw. Hua Jingming was also pleasantly surprised.
In contrast, Su Qing's reaction was lukewarm.
It wasn't that she was pretending to be reserved; she had genuinely seen many of these things.
I've been wandering around like this for two days.
The first invitation finally arrived at my home.
Upon opening it, one finds an invitation from the Prefect of Tongmin Prefecture, saying that colleagues are having a small gathering and requesting that Prefect Su grace him with his presence.
Tongmin Prefecture, Su Qing's hometown.
When she passed by there on her way here, the prefect must have left first, since she was delayed by something.
Su Qing gladly accepted the invitation, and even brought two jars of fine wine and fabrics that she had bought a few days earlier.
Looking at the other colleagues' teams, they were all pretty much the same.
When Prefect Chen of Tongmin Prefecture saw her coming, he immediately said, "Prefect Shen of Shanyang Prefecture will also be here soon. Don't worry, with me here, nothing will happen."
As the owner, Prefect Chen was in a rather difficult position.
He should have separated the two, but he did indeed host two banquets, one for Prefect Su and his entourage, and the other for Prefect Shen and his group.
Unexpectedly, the subordinates were incompetent and managed to slip several of tomorrow's posts into this mess.
Fortunately, he did not intend to host a banquet for Prefect Zhao of Huizhou in the past two days.
Otherwise, if his invitation is included, a fight will inevitably break out at the banquet.
Seeing his expression, Su Qing knew it was unintentional and smiled, "This humble official has long wanted to meet Prefect Shen."
Although both were prefects, they addressed each other as "your humble servant," which was actually a form of modesty.
Speaking of Prefect Chen, he only took office in Tongmin Prefecture this year.
She knew Su Qing's hometown all too well.
If it weren't for rampant banditry, Mei's cousins wouldn't have been sent to her place.
Prefect Chen had been in office for less than half a year and wanted to befriend Su Qing so he could learn from her experience.
She must have real skills to have managed Guangyuefu to its current state.
But who would have thought that they would also invite Prefect Shen of Shanyang Prefecture?
I'm really afraid the two of them will start arguing.
While the prefect was arguing, Su Qing's emotions were noticeably more stable.
Su Qing had just sat down when he followed Prefect Chen to greet his other colleagues.
Officials from various places were all curious about Su Qing and inevitably chatted with him for a while.
When it comes to governing local areas, they become quite talkative.
It wasn't until the prefects of two nearby prefectures came over that they ran up to him, expressing their gratitude repeatedly.
Prefect Chen of Tongmin Prefecture invited Su Qing for two reasons.
They had always wanted to thank Su Qing, but had been struggling to find the opportunity.
Let's just hold a banquet; that would make things awkward for Prefect Zhao.
So, through this roundabout method, they finally met.
"If you hadn't intervened in time, there would have been widespread bloodshed."
"The people of both places are extremely grateful to you."
"We've harvested one season of beans, which is enough to barely make ends meet."
"Master Du and Scholar Wang should have already returned to Guangyue Prefecture."
Faced with the two men's repeated gratitude, Su Qing remained polite: "Back then, the rebels in Guang Le Prefecture received supplies from various places."
"Since we are all from Shunchang State and Prefecture, we must help each other."
The officials present nodded repeatedly.
Yes, they are all people of Shunchang Kingdom, they are all landowners.
Mutual support and assistance is only right and proper.
Before the banquet even started, Su Qing became the center of attention.
When Prefect Shen of Shanyang Prefecture entered the gate, he felt a sudden darkness before his eyes.
Just now, Prefect Chen told him that Su Qing was also here today, and he almost got angry.
If we didn't know that Lord Chen was honest, we would all think he did it on purpose.
Su Qing met Prefect Shen's gaze, and with a smile, Su Qing took the initiative to greet him.
Prefect Shen snorted, which was considered a response.
Everyone present, especially Lord Chen, breathed a sigh of relief.
That's great! Everyone gave him, the owner, face and didn't start a fight!
People in officialdom are all shrewd; they intentionally or unintentionally kept the two apart, each listening to their own music and watching their own plays.
However, when it came to drinking, many people knew that Su Qing was a lightweight and easily defeated, so Lord Chen had no intention of making things difficult for her.
Prefect Shen put down his cup and said, "What? Just because you're a woman, does that mean you can be treated differently? Now that you've become an official, how can you not drink?"
It's over.
Everyone present thought the same thing at the same time.
Su Qing leisurely put down her honey water cup: "Whether someone is a woman or not, whether someone is an official or not, has absolutely nothing to do with whether they can drink. Why did Prefect Shen have to put them together?"
Prefect Shen's lips moved slightly, and Lord Chen quickly tried to ease the tension: "It's just a small gathering of colleagues, why make such a fuss? If we can drink, we can drink; if not, so be it."
The prefects and governors who had received favors from Su Qing also smoothed things over.
That's considered putting the matter behind us.
After the banquet, Su Qing received many invitations.
In particular, Lord Chen of Tongmin Prefecture was determined to consult him on how to govern Su Qing's hometown.
While waiting for the carriage, Su Qing saw Lord Shen approaching and then turned to leave.
Even the servants around Su Qing and the maids around her breathed a sigh of relief.
It's good that you're separate, it's good that you're separate, don't get together!
Unexpectedly, Prefect Su took the initiative to greet him and even invited Lord Shen to wait together.
Prefect Shen's face darkened.
She took the initiative to give way, yet she repeatedly provoked him. How could she know the gravity of the situation?
But just as Prefect Shen arrived, he heard Su Qing whisper, "I heard that Your Excellency only has one beloved daughter."
"He is only thirteen years old this year, but he is proficient in all four books and five classics."
"Is it really true?"
When his daughter was mentioned, Prefect Shen's eyes softened.
He had four or five wives and concubines, but he only had this one daughter with his wife, whom he cherished dearly.
He had hoped his daughter would marry a good man without any worries, and his wish had been fulfilled.
Unexpectedly, my daughter is a promising student.
He picked up a pen at three and wrote poetry at five.
She can memorize a sentence by reciting it herself.
She liked him terribly.
If this is a man.
He had already passed the imperial examinations to become a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations) and a Juren (a scholar who passed the highest level of the imperial examinations).
How can we allow those mediocre talents who are over twenty and have not yet passed the imperial examinations to occupy a place?
Prefect Shen, who passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty-four, certainly had the right to criticize "mediocrities".
Su Qing sighed: "If your own daughter can't participate in the children's examination, then you're preventing the daughters under my jurisdiction from participating."
Is this hatred or jealousy?
A note from the author:
I'd like to recommend my upcoming novels, "Help! I'm Surrounded by Ancient Chinese Male Protagonists" and "Transmigrated to Become a Master Chef." Please add them to your favorites!
Su Wen woke up to find that he had transmigrated.
Not only did she time travel, but she was also surrounded by all sorts of handsome young men in ancient style.
? ? ?
Am I surrounded by ancient-style male high school boys?
Among the crowd, only one man with a gentle face had impatience in his eyes, as if he had seen something dirty.
When Su Wen remembered everything, he was completely numb.
The original owner of this body was a cannon fodder female supporting character in a book. Because she loved her fiancé, she disguised herself as a man and entered the Imperial Academy, wanting to stay by his side.
Unexpectedly, this only made the other party dislike him more, but he couldn't say anything because of the marriage agreement between the two families.
Once her original fiancé passed the imperial examination with top honors, he naturally went to the Su family to annul the engagement as soon as possible.
The Su family was ridiculed in the capital for a long time as a result, and later the whole family was imprisoned and exiled until they died on the way to exile.
Before he died, the original owner of this body was crippled in both legs and froze to death on the roadside.
Thinking of his tragic future, Su Wen kowtowed to God several times.
She'll stay away from her ex-husband from now on!
I will absolutely not bother you again!
In the darkness, the ex-husband vaguely heard his own name, and then the word "entanglement," and his eyes grew increasingly impatient.
But in the following months, the person who had promised to harass him only became close to other people.
He was very close to the youngest son of the general, the eldest son of the minister, and the illegitimate son of the marquis.
Instead, they avoided him like the plague.
Why is she so nice to every man?
She disguised herself as a man to come to the Imperial Academy, wasn't it for him?
While her ex-husband was filled with remorse, under the pear blossom tree at the Imperial Academy, Su Wen was kissed on the cheek by that illegitimate son who only knew how to play the victim.
Just as the ex-husband was about to step forward, Su Wen jumped eight feet away, panicking and saying, "I don't do homosexual things!"
As she spoke, she ran behind her, just in time to see her ex-husband looking at her with a sinister gaze.
Su asked: ? Did I encounter a ghost today?
The ex-husband and the illegitimate child exchanged a glance, both of them showing determination in their eyes.
Su Wen himself said: I just want to pass the imperial examination with top honors so that I won't be exiled!
I really don't want to have any fetishes with you guys who like to dress in ancient styles!
ps: ps
1. The male lead is from ancient times and already knew the female lead was disguised as a man. It's a 1v1 relationship, and he's not her ex-husband.
2. Later on, the ex-husband will gradually regain his memories of his past life, but his attempts to win back his wife will fail.
3. Early stages involve taking the imperial examinations; later stages involve becoming an official, farming, and punishing scumbags.
Transmigrating to Become a Master Chef
Just as Chef Su Su was about to open his tenth chain restaurant, Private Kitchen, he was hit by a flowerpot falling from the sky and transported to another world.
She had barely opened her eyes when her stepmother forced her to marry. Naturally, Su Su refused and secretly left the village.
Upon arriving in the county town, Su Su found herself with no relatives or friends. After looking around, she decided to set up a small stall near the county government office for safety reasons.
What kind of hooligans and bandits dare to cause trouble in front of the constables!
Su Su smiled at the cold-faced constable who came to eat every day, and said, "Please come again, sir!"
The cold-faced constable paused, then said in a low voice, "Don't say that."
Holding the freshly baked pastries, Su Su thought to herself, "In order for you constables to protect me, of course I have to say nice things!"
The constable picked up a snack and took a deep breath: "Don't flirt with people."
Huh? Was she flirting? I don't think so.
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Food + Detective
Food is the main focus, with crime-solving as a secondary element.
Mini cookies
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