Chapter 051: Planting Doubts

Chapter 051: Planting Doubts

Throughout his tenure as the county magistrate of Lu City, the highest-ranking official he had ever encountered was an officer from the Ministry of Revenue overseeing disaster relief. For a county magistrate like him, unless something earth-shattering occurred, he would never have the opportunity to go to the capital, let alone meet a first-rank official.

At most, he interacted with the prefect of Yu Prefecture, who oversaw Lu City.

Now, there was the Chancellor, Ministry of Revenue officials, and even the daughter of a duke... This put quite a bit of pressure on him. If there was any lapse in hospitality and he offended one of them, he could lose his position.

In the county office, there were detailed records of the dam's construction. It clearly stated that elm wood was used, but Ji Lingchuan saw poplar wood at the breach of the dam, suggesting something fishy was going on.

After instructing Jiang Ming to bring a copy, He An was about to leave.

Magistrate Bao, anxious, said, "Sir, you and Madam have been traveling all day. Why not rest and have a meal at my humble abode before returning?"

"No need. Just compile the number of laborers in the city who can participate in the dam's construction and submit it to me tomorrow."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

As soon as the Chancellor left, Magistrate Bao collapsed in his chair as if a layer of skin had been peeled off him. Just then, a guard came in and said, "Sir, Young Master Wu has arrived."

Hearing this name, Magistrate Bao frowned but still had the man invited in.

As soon as Wu Quan entered, he asked, "So, did the Chancellor discover any discrepancies?"

"No, he only reviewed the records of the dam's construction in recent years. They were flawless. Young Master Wu, there's no need to worry."

Wu Quan nodded, confident that the accounts were flawless because they were handled by experts he hired. He was just asking casually. What he was truly concerned about was something else.

Sitting down next to Magistrate Bao and lowering his voice, he asked, "Was there anything unusual about the Chancellor on this trip?"

Magistrate Bao thought for a moment and shook his head. Then, frowning, he said, "If there was anything, it would be that when we were at the post house, we were attacked by bandits."

"By the way, the Chancellor also brought in seven or eight bandits who are now locked up in the county jail."

Wu Quan frowned deeply upon hearing this. "Did the Chancellor not order you to investigate those people?"

"No, he asked about the dam as soon as he arrived and told me to compile the laborer numbers. He seemed very urgent, probably eager to return to the capital."

That was understandable. Who would want to suffer in this backwater place?

**

In an ordinary courtyard, Ruan Qinghuan and Chu Li sat on stone stools. Chu Li looked angry, her lips pursed in silence.

Seeing her like this, Ruan Qinghuan couldn't help but laugh.

Chu Li frowned and said, "Is Madam also mocking me?"

"I'm not mocking you. I just find you a little cute." She had come here hoping to drag Ji Mingchuan back once the official business was done. What a plan!

Chu Li looked a little defeated. "I went to his camp, but he kept hiding and wouldn't come out. It's driving me crazy."

"Chu Li, if you keep pursuing General Ji like this, he’ll only want to run away even more."

"Then what should I do?"

Ruan Qinghuan thoughtfully said, "As I mentioned at the teahouse before, instead of rushing to let him know you like him, why not let him figure out whether he likes you."

"If he's truly not interested in you, why insist? But if he is, then the situation will change completely."

The logic made sense, but how could she test it?

She can't even get a glimpse of Ji Lingchuan anymore.

"What about you? Do you like him?" Chu Li asked Ruan Qinghuan.

Outside the courtyard, He An paused in his steps, and Jiang Ming behind him also stopped.

Ruan Qinghuan had never thought about this question—does she like He An?

When she arrived here, she only hoped that they would stay out of each other's way and part ways after two years. Later, He An changed, and after he took her by force, they unexpectedly became a real couple.

But then again, a man like He An—both educated and skilled in combat—who wouldn’t admire him?

"I'm... not sure yet."

"What?" Chu Li exclaimed in surprise, "You're already married, and you're still not certain?"

"I think it's not just me. He An probably doesn't know either."

Outside the door, He An's expression darkened, and even though Jiang Ming was behind him, he could feel the intense pressure.

He couldn't help but silently sigh, wondering when their master had become so easily affected by emotions.

The moment He An returned, Chu Li left, despite Ruan Qinghuan’s efforts to convince her to stay. After some questioning, Ruan Qinghuan learned that the grain shipment from Jiangnan to Lu City was being escorted by Chu Li’s maternal family.

Ruan Qinghuan then learned that Chu Li's grandfather, named Feng Yuanshan, was also from Jiangnan and had been a family friend of Ruan Qinghuan's grandfather.

The person in charge of escorting the grain this time was her cousin, Feng Yi.

Since it was a family visit, Ruan Qinghuan didn’t try to stop her and personally saw Chu Li off. As Chu Li left, she glanced back at the courtyard, "Your master looks upset, as if he's angry."

"Is he?" Ruan Qinghuan turned back, but He An had already entered the room.

Back in the room, Ruan Qinghuan poured him a cup of tea and asked, "Did you find anything at the county office, my lord?"

"No, the accounts and records are spotless. Without tearing down the dam, it’s nearly impossible to pin any wrongdoing on Bao County Magistrate regarding the disaster relief."

"We don’t need to rush. Bao County Magistrate likely has his hands in more than one dirty deal. Who knows what else he’s done with the Wu brothers?"

The Wu family, relying on the support of the second prince's mother-in-law, had always acted recklessly. This time, He An's arrival didn’t seem to scare them much—this was their foolishness.

Often, people with powerful backers had the illusion that their support would never fall.

"What about tomorrow, my lord? What's the plan for tomorrow?"

"Does my lady have something in mind?"

Ruan Qinghuan sat across from him, meeting He An's gaze, and only then did she notice that his expression seemed off.

Thinking it might be because of the embezzled disaster relief funds, she didn’t dwell on it. "Along the way, many people downstream have started to move away to avoid the disaster. Shouldn't we set up some temporary shelters on the eastern slope?"

"The young ones are fine, but we need to settle the elderly, women, and children." Ruan Qinghuan thought for a moment. "Yuzhou is the nearest, and tents are standard military equipment. We can get them there quickly. If that’s not enough, we may need to ask General Ji for help..."

As she spoke, she noticed He An’s expression darkening further and asked, "My lord, you look so serious—has something happened?"

"I’m tired and need to rest. Could you help me undress, my lady?"

"Ah?" Ruan Qinghuan glanced at the sky. "It's still early. Haven't you had dinner yet, my lord? Should I ask Xia Lian to prepare some supper?"

Before she could finish, He An had already pulled her into his arms. His deep, dark gaze made Ruan Qinghuan's heart race. Whenever He An looked at her like this, it meant he wanted her.

But He An just stared at her, wondering what he had done to make her doubt his feelings for her.