Chapter 207: Being a Good Enforcer (Third Update)

Chapter 207: Being a Good Enforcer (Third Update)

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong reached out to take the teacup. "I'm not favoring that girl—I haven't prohibited other businesses from making jiahua xuan paper, nor have I decreed that only Chen's can produce and sell it. I follow the rules, so don't try to pin a label on me."

Madam Zhou placed the teacup on the square table instead: A stubborn old man, unworthy of a personally served cup of tea.

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong smiled, his beard curling up contentedly. "Hey! Don’t doubt me. I never get involved in business disputes, and today’s situation has its own reasons."

Madam Zhou waited for him to finish his spiel.

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong sipped the warm monk fruit tea and said, "The chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department came to Xuancheng Prefecture at the beginning of the month, in civilian clothes. I only learned about it later."

The Imperial Household Department usually stays within the palace to find tributes. They rarely venture out unless there are major events such as the Emperor's or Empress's birthday, the ascension of a new emperor, or the birth of a crown prince.

Madam Zhou frowned. "The Emperor's birthday is in August, which has already passed... The Emperor's eldest son is twelve years old..."

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong waved his hand, interrupting her thoughts. "The political climate in the Capital is unpredictable, even I can't fully grasp it. Let's just focus on why the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department came to Xuancheng Prefecture."

Madam Zhou glanced at Prefectural Magistrate Xiong but did not say more, knowing he was slowly organizing his thoughts.

"The Imperial Household Department likely came for xuan paper. In previous years, we couldn't compete with Shanteng paper and Goguryeo tribute paper, and no paper made it to the Emperor's desk. Naturally, he wouldn't remember us when allocating funds, setting up schools, medical facilities, or dividing counties. If we can send tribute paper this year, I, Xiong Ding, would have done right by Xuancheng Prefecture."

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong sighed.

These were heartfelt words.

Madam Zhou gently stroked her husband's graying hair.

"Heng Kee is undergoing a power transition; the young and old are fighting like mad. As for Baiji..."

Mentioning Baiji annoyed Prefectural Magistrate Xiong.

A good family, yet they treat their daughter like merchandise.

Sending a sixteen-year-old girl to a sixty-year-old official, what for?

Their reputation is ruined, the girl is destroyed, and they can't even help—after serving as a prefect for most of my life, a mere Assistant Prefect of Shun Tian Prefecture means nothing to me. When I’m in a good mood, I give them some face; when I’m not, who are you?

I fear nothing!

And they still dare to come before me!

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong said sternly, "Only Chen's remains! And now, He Xianjin unifies Chen's and introduces this impressive jiahua xuan paper—whether for tribute or not, I must support her to maintain the quality of this paper!"

Madam Zhou nodded in understanding.

If the quality of jiahua paper is lowered by Baiji, how could it be considered a tribute?

The path to tribute would be completely cut off!

Madam Zhou smiled, her wrinkles showing kindness. "Save these words for Youniang."

Madam Zhou added, "That girl rushed to me the moment she heard Baiji approached, worried you wouldn't support Madam He."

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong also smiled and turned to an elderly servant. "...Go, send something to Madam He in Youniang's name."

Madam Zhou frowned and scolded, "You old man, bringing your bureaucratic tricks into our household—you've decided to protect Chen's, yet insist on making Madam He indebted to Youniang!"

Sending something in Youniang's name makes it seem like Youniang interceded, leading Prefectural Magistrate Xiong to overlook the matter.

Forcing Xianjin to owe Youniang a favor.

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong chuckled. "One deed, two favors, why not? It benefits Youniang to befriend Madam He—she's capable of more than just this."

Madam Zhou also laughed. "Even if she becomes a royal merchant, keep an eye on Cui Heng—he might bring back a noble title for Youniang. If these two girls become friends, it will naturally be our Youniang helping Madam He."

Not necessarily.

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong shook his head inwardly.

After decades in politics, his intuition told him something was happening, though he didn't know specifics—like why the original appointment for Jing County was revoked and replaced with Cui Heng, or how higher-ups knew about Cui Heng. Or why the neighboring Anyang Prefecture’s prefect was suddenly investigated, and how higher-ups knew about the collusion between officials and bandits.

These matters were beyond his clearance.

But he sensed it wasn't simple.

Madam Zhou continued, "If Madam He were truly from Chen's, even if just a concubine's daughter, I'd be willing to marry her to our second son based on her talents... But she's fatherless... Her mother fled from Qingzhou to Xuancheng Prefecture, claiming her husband died without revealing his identity..."

Qingzhou suffered floods that year, leaving many widows and orphans struggling to survive.

In her view, Madam He’s mother was likely a runaway concubine from a wealthy family, escaping during chaos, fearing return once things settled.

Who would dare marry someone with such a background?

No matter how talented and smart Madam He is, she wouldn't dare arrange such a marriage for her son.

Madam Zhou sighed. "What a pity."

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong looked at Madam Zhou and teased, "Is the highest praise for a young lady from you aunties to want her as a daughter-in-law?"

Madam Zhou protested, "What do you mean by 'aunties' and 'our age'?"

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong patted his wife's back, soothing her, and laughed. "Don’t overthink it! Even if you wanted to marry her, she might not want to marry in!—In Jing County, Chen's third son registered He Xianjin as a female household member. She can live her whole life unmarried, sending her savings to the Chen clan upon death, ensuring her care in old age."

Madam Zhou thought about it and agreed it was a good option, better than marrying an unworthy man. "Her father does love her."

Prefectural Magistrate Xiong stroked his beard.

Parents love their children and plan for their long-term well-being.

Chen Lao San, though unreliable, had done everything ahead of time for Shopkeeper He, his sincere love for his daughter touching everyone.

He is better than the Bai family by a million times.

Thinking of the Bai family, Prefectural Magistrate Xiong turned to the old man beside him and continued his instructions, "By the way, send a wooden paddle to the Zhen family, and warn them to properly educate their son."

Pausing for a moment, he added, "Next month, the southern section of Longchuan Creek will also open for navigation. Have Zhen Youqian apply, and make the documents look good."

The old man noted it down and left to carry out the order.

A slap followed by a sweet date, but the slap is light while the sweet date is as big as a toad.

Zhen Youqian suddenly found his place: being a loyal enforcer for Prefectural Magistrate Xiong is stronger than anything else.