Chapter 95: A Good Official

Chapter 95: A Good Official

The most promising member of the Marquis of Changyang's family was Yu Zhangxing. The son from a concubine, Yu Shiyan, married Ye Yunchu, who was highly regarded by the Emperor for his young talent and promising future, making him a golden son-in-law. Only Yu Lanyi had a less advantageous marriage, moving from the capital to a remote and impoverished area. Last year, she presented a concrete formula to the Emperor, briefly gaining some recognition, but nothing more. After all, coming from a humble background, it wasn’t seen as a favorable match. The disparity in status meant that some people’s starting point was another’s ultimate goal.

The smile on Heir Ye’s lips remained unchanged. "Indeed, but I will still handle matters impartially. You need not worry, my lords."

One official said, "Heir Ye, that's not what I meant. We trust your character. It's just that we're curious about Xinfeng County. How you report this trip is entirely up to you. We won't interfere."

"Lord Dong is right," Ye Yunchu acknowledged quietly.

"Just the construction of the concrete road alone is a significant accomplishment," Lord Dong said, stroking his beard and lifting the carriage curtain to look at the road. Emperor Wuming had ordered the Minister of Works to prioritize road construction, focusing first on military strongholds. The capital was also under construction, though it wasn’t yet completed.

They arrived at Xinfeng County by afternoon. At the city gate, there was a small settlement. Ye Yunchu narrowed his eyes and instructed his subordinates to call out to the soldiers at the gate.

Soon, the gate opened, and Ye Yunchu's party entered Xinfeng County. Xinfeng County had allowed its residents to move in and out freely since the start of winter. However, hearing that the plague in other counties had not yet ended, they had not opened the gates lightly.

Even with fast horses, sending a report from Qingzhou to the capital took time. Ye Yunchu's relief mission required him to stay in various places for several days. In total, it had been nearly five months since the locust disaster.

As they entered Xinfeng County, the streets were bustling. A Yamen Runner who had just finished his shift bought a green onion pancake from a roadside vendor, its aroma wafting through the air as he walked and ate.

Vendors carrying shoulder poles shouted their wares. Noodle and wonton stalls had customers sitting on benches, waiting for their food. Passing by a stall selling lamb organ soup, the rich smell was so enticing that it stirred the appetites of several officials.

"This... Xinfeng County looks so normal," a young accompanying official said, astonished by the scene.

The other officials thought the same. But in the context of Qingzhou's situation, Xinfeng County's state of normalcy seemed highly unusual.

"Xinfeng County doesn't seem to need imperial aid for disaster relief at all. It's no different from an ordinary county," one official remarked, puzzled as he observed the commoners.

Logically, Xinfeng County was the most remote and impoverished part of Qingzhou, with poor soil and little development potential. It lacked both herbal medicines and grain. Yet now, it appeared more prosperous than any other place in Qingzhou, even surpassing the governance of the prefectural capital. The Qingzhou Prefect had done his duty, managing the plague outbreak in the prefecture, but it was nothing like Xinfeng County.

They kept their confusion to themselves, planning to seek answers soon.

As the soldiers opened the city gate, a messenger rode to the county office to report to Zheng Shanci, "Lord Zheng, the imperial envoy has arrived."

Zheng Shanci, who was about to finish his shift, was startled. "Do you know which official from the court has come?"

"Reporting to Lord Zheng, I only heard someone at the gate mention something about a 'Heir.'"

Zheng Shanci nodded and dismissed him.

A Heir? Could it be Heir Ye? Zheng Shanci stood up and instructed Wang Fu to spread the news.

But it might not be. There were many heirs in the Great Yan Dynasty; it might not be Ye Yunchu. Since arriving in Xinfeng County from the capital, Zheng Shanci had rarely thought about the original events. Now, hearing the word "Heir," he felt a bit disoriented.

The carriage stopped at the county office gate. Zheng Shanci, along with the county officials, came out to welcome the imperial envoy.

"Xinfeng County Magistrate Zheng Shanci, along with the county officials, greets the imperial envoy," Zheng Shanci said in a clear voice, bowing respectfully but without subservience.

Ye Yunchu said, "You may rise," as he stepped out of the carriage. Seeing Zheng Shanci, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He had long forgotten what Zheng Shanci looked like or his demeanor. Now, seeing him in his official robe, dignified and courteous, it was hard to connect him with the image of someone who curried favor with the powerful.

Zheng Shanci, however, recognized Ye Yunchu.

"I have prepared a banquet at an eatery to welcome you, my lords. This way, please."

Ye Yunchu nodded.

As the group arrived at the banquet table, Scribe Jiang instructed a Clerk before leaving, "Ensure the post station takes good care of the imperial envoy. No mistakes are allowed."

The Clerk acknowledged the order and left.

Scribe Jiang got into the carriage and used his sleeve to gently wipe the sweat from his forehead. Despite the cold weather, Scribe Jiang was breaking into a sweat. This was his first time seeing an imperial envoy from the capital in person. He seemed too young.

Local officials hold lower status compared to those from the capital.

Scribe Jiang thought of Lord Zheng's composed demeanor and felt admiration. No wonder he was the marquis’s son-in-law. Lord Zheng had seen grand occasions, unlike himself, who was so inexperienced.

When they arrived at the restaurant and entered the private room, the clerk served the dishes and wine. Then, the Yamen Runners closed the door and stood guard outside.

As the host, Lord Zheng was expected to toast everyone. This was a formal occasion, and everyone followed the protocol, avoiding any improper remarks.

After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became more relaxed. The officials began to eat, finding the dishes at the restaurant delicious. The steamed lamb was particularly flavorful, free of any gaminess, melting in their mouths. And so was the roasted goose, crispy on the outside and tender inside. After traveling from Lan County to Xin Feng County, they had only eaten dry rations and pastries on the road, so they were already hungry. The delicious meal made them unwilling to stop eating.

Ye Yunchu asked, "Lord Zheng, we were sent by the court to deliver disaster relief in Qingzhou. However, upon arriving in Xin Feng County, we found that relief was unnecessary here. Could you enlighten us?"

Lord Zheng replied, "Initially, a locust plague broke out just before the autumn harvest. The people worked together to fight the pests, and the wealthy households in the city kept grain prices stable. The Yamen Runners maintained order and disposed of the corpses."

Lord Dong interjected, "So, Lord Zheng, you're saying the locust plague had little impact on you."

Lord Zheng nodded slightly and then explained the situation with the plague. "There were still people in our county who fell ill with the plague. They are still in quarantine, about twenty individuals, but the rest remained symptom-free. After observing for several months, I allowed the people in the city to move about, but as a precaution, the city gates remained closed to outsiders."

An official quickly asked, "Then what about the people outside the city gates?"

"They are from Lan County. I couldn't let them in, but I allowed them to set up camp about ten meters away from the city gates." Lord Zheng did not elaborate further on how he assisted the people of Lan County.

One official had already decided to inquire with the people outside the city gates upon their return.

The situation in Lan County was clearly desperate, a stark contrast to Xin Feng County.

Ye Yunchu fell into deep thought, looking at Lord Zheng. If he were in Lord Zheng's position, he might not have managed as effectively. Whether dealing with subordinates, merchants, or the common people, Lord Zheng had done his utmost. It was a pity that such an official was merely serving as a county magistrate in Xin Feng County.

He began to regard Lord Zheng with greater seriousness.

Lord Dong sighed, "Lord Zheng, you are too modest. At your age, possessing such insight and capability is truly exceptional. To speak frankly, you surpass most court officials. We, as officials, receive the court's salary, but few, like you, truly have the people's welfare at heart. You handle affairs with wisdom and discretion, truly a model official."

The other officials nodded in agreement.

Someone remarked, "I recall Lord Zheng is not yet twenty-five. Truly a young achiever. Those who took the imperial exams with you have already fallen behind. Lord Zheng, you are a gem."

This gem was shining brightly during this disaster, drawing everyone's attention.

What does being a Third-Ranked Jinshi matter? In the future, no one would mock him for his exam rank. In the officialdom, achievements are what truly count. He had poured his heart and soul into Xin Feng County, and in return, Xin Feng County would reward him with the best achievements, enough to earn him a promotion.

"You all flatter me too much," Lord Zheng said modestly.

Lord Dong laughed, "It seems the Marquis did not misjudge."

Mentioning the Marquis of Changyang, Lord Zheng couldn't help but think of Yu Lanyi. He smiled slightly, "I dare not comment on my father-in-law's affairs."

Ye Yunchu glanced at Lord Zheng, his smile fading slightly.

As it grew late, Ye Yunchu and his entourage were tired and returned to the posthouse to rest.

Lord Zheng returned home and went to wash up. He had sent word home earlier about welcoming the imperial envoy.

When Lord Zheng came out of the bath, Yu Lanyi pulled him to sit down and asked, "Who is the imperial envoy sent by the court?"

Lord Zheng pulled the blanket over himself, "There's Heir Ye, and a few other officials I don't recognize."

Yu Lanyi thought for a moment, "The Emperor truly trusts him. Ye Yunchu must be the envoy, with the others accompanying him. You've done so well this time; he should speak highly of you before the Emperor."

Yu Lanyi's eyes held no affection for Ye Yunchu. Ye Yunchu should call him 'second brother' and Zheng Shanci 'second brother-in-law.' But neither of them was one to cling to family ties, especially since Yu Lanyi and Yu Shiyan had never gotten along.

"Your ears are still red, so you must have drunk a lot. I'll call Jin Yun to bring you some wake-up soup," Yu Lanyi said, reaching out to pinch Zheng Shanci's red ears hidden beneath his hair.

Zheng Shanci composed his expression, smiling earnestly. "I drank too much, and it's gone to my ears."

After Jin Yun brought the wake-up soup, Zheng Shanci drank it, lay down, and held Yu Lanyi. He asked, "Lan Yi, I want to..."

Before he could finish, Yu Lanyi covered his mouth with his hand. "You don't want to."

It was too cold, and he had no desire to stir up trouble.

"Wait until spring, then you can have your way. Not now," Yu Lanyi whispered, feeling Zheng Shanci's hot breath and sensing his own body heating up. "I can lend you a hand."

Zheng Shanci's gaze fell on Yu Lanyi's face, and he leaned in to kiss his lips.

He agreed softly, "Okay."

...

When Ye Yunchu and his group arrived at the post station, he went upstairs to rest first. The other officials, having had some liquor, asked the post station for wake-up soup, which perked them up. After washing up, Lord Dong lay down in his bed, his thoughts lingering on Zheng Shanci. The more he thought about Zheng Shanci, the more pleased he felt. Zheng Shanci was neither subservient nor arrogant, neither hasty nor rash. Compared to the young master from the Marquis of Changyang's household, he was the polar opposite, as if from different worlds.

He envied the Marquis of Changyang's position. If he had such an outstanding nephew in his family, he would surely nurture him well, as he might become a pillar of the court in the future. He decided to write a memorial to the Emperor upon returning to the capital.

Before departing, Ye Yunchu left silver, grain, and medicinal herbs, saying, "The plague in the counties of Qingzhou has mostly subsided. You can open the city gates now."

They did not stay long, and Zheng Shanci saw them off at the city gate. The people from Lan County, waiting at the gate, packed up to return home.

Seeing Zheng Shanci, they rushed over, tears in their eyes, and knelt. "Thank you, Lord Zheng! You are truly a good official!"

"Thank you, Lord Zheng!"

"Thank you for saving our lives!"

This was not a show for the imperial envoys. Zheng Shanci hadn't expected it. He helped them up, saying, "I didn't do much. It was all your own efforts. When you came to the city gate and begged for help, I couldn't let you in, so I could only do what little I could. Your will to survive saved you; otherwise, I couldn't have done anything."

"Lord Zheng!" Some of the people, who had not intended to cry, couldn't hold back their tears upon hearing Zheng Shanci's words.

The watching officials were deeply moved. Zheng Shanci's popularity among the people was truly enviable.

On the return journey, Ye Yunchu was unusually quiet. The other officials, having left Xin Feng County, still reminisced about its delicious food. They bought spicy sauce, liquor, and perfumes to take back with them.

An official suddenly said, "I've figured out how to describe Lord Zheng: 'A gentleman doesn't stand under a crumbling wall.'"

Lord Dong pondered this, stroking his beard and laughing. "Well said! His approach to the people of Lan County is indeed that of a gentleman who doesn't stand under a crumbling wall."

Ye Yunchu was surprised by how highly the officials regarded Zheng Shanci. To describe him as "a gentleman who doesn't stand under a crumbling wall" was a rare compliment.

Another official added, "A gentleman takes righteousness as his essence, acts with propriety, speaks with humility, and achieves his goals with integrity."

Lord Dong repeated the phrase, saying "Well said" three times. "I will include these two lines in my memorial."

Lord Dong truly admired Zheng Shanci.