Chapter 65

Chapter 65

Before Yun Zhangxie and Yun Zhangyao even returned, news of Yun Zhangxie’s success as Tanhua in the imperial examinations had already reached Qiuping County.

When Madam Xu, the third wife, heard the news, she initially thought the officials delivering the good tidings had made a mistake.

Uncertain, she repeatedly questioned the messengers, pulling them closer.

“Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake? How could it be the third son who passed? Did you misread the name?”

The officials checked the list in their hands and firmly assured her, “Madam, we did not misread. The name is indeed Yun Zhangxie.”

Shortly after the two messengers departed, the official transfer orders arrived within two days.

Third Master Yun was to become a prefect in the south, while Yun Zhangxie would return to Qiuping County as the new County Magistrate.

A County Magistrate was merely a low-ranking seventh-grade official, and for Yun Zhangxie, this year’s Tanhua, it was somewhat a step down for someone of his caliber.

However, because of his return, Third Master Yun, who had been stuck for years in his position, could finally be promoted—a cause for celebration for the Yun family.

Third Master Yun was delighted. While busy getting his household ready to relocate, he also instructed his subordinates in the county office to assist his son properly upon his arrival.

The happier Third Master Yun was, the more resentful Madam Xu became.

She just couldn't wrap her head around how Yun Zhangxie, with his poor health, could not only participate in the imperial examinations but also achieve the rank of Tanhua.

When he had been under her care, he had never struck her as particularly clever.

Had she known he had such potential, she would've kept him on a short leash, ensuring he remained just as powerless as Yun Changgeng.

But it was too late for regrets. Now that things had come to this, she could no longer push her luck.

Yun Zhangxie was now a Tanhua and an official.

Even if he was only a small-time official, she could no longer boss him around like before.

Harming a court official was a serious offense, and even with her brother’s official status, he wouldn’t be able to protect her from the consequences.

Yun Zhangxie and his party returned to Qiuping County in early June.

By then, the weather was sweltering, making for a tough journey.

Upon his return, Yun Zhangxie’s first task was to assume official duties from Third Master Yun.

Meanwhile, Yun Zhangyao, who had returned with him, was immediately punished by his mother.

She had learned that he had skipped out on the Metropolitan Examination to visit brothels.

She couldn’t believe how her son could do such a thing.

The Yun family took pride in being a scholarly household, rising from humble origins and holding themselves to higher standards than other aristocratic families.

For Yun Zhangyao to drag the family name through the mud like this would surely disappoint Vice Minister Yun deeply.

She suddenly regretted spoiling Yun Zhangyao so much in his youth, which had made him so bold.

After Third Master Yun showed Yun Zhangxie the ropes at the county office and handed over his responsibilities, he prepared to leave with his family for his new post.

In a hurry, Third Master Yun had no opportunity to discipline his son. He hastily threw together their belongings and departed.

As a man without ambition, Third Master Yun’s departure likely meant he wouldn’t return for many years.

With the long distance, Yun Zhangxie, his third son, couldn’t accompany him, so he took his other two sons instead.

This meant not only Yun Zhangyao but also Yun Changgeng’s family had to leave with him.

Yun Changgeng was reluctant but ultimately yielded to the combined pressure of Madam Xu and his wife, leaving with a bitter expression.

Once Third Master Yun’s family had departed, Yun Zhangxie officially took over as County Magistrate.

Third Master Yun had lacked ambition, and his subordinates were mostly decent and hardworking.

Under such circumstances, Qiuping County’s development had been nothing special but reasonably fair, with few injustices.

As County Magistrate, Yun Zhangxie promoted Hunter Chen to serve as his personal bodyguard.

Hunter Chen was too capable to remain just a house guard.

Now that Yun Zhangxie’s household had many servants and Yuan Zhi had grown up, and with him as the local authority, nobody would be foolish enough to make trouble for them.

While Yun Zhangxie familiarized himself with county affairs, many villagers from Xunxiang Town came to see him.

Yun Zhangxie was buried in reviewing past financial records and tax documents, leaving him no time to meet them.

However, he worried about missing any real concerns of the people.

After some thought, he had Hunter Chen meet the villagers on his behalf.

If they had no pressing matters, they wouldn’t take up Yun Zhangxie’s time.

If they had difficulties, Hunter Chen could pass them along to Yun Zhangxie.

Most visitors had nothing important—they were simply wondering how Yun Zhangxie had risen so quickly to become an official.

Aside from the curious and those seeking favor, a few genuinely needed Yun Zhangxie’s help.

Hunter Chen, with no official duties to occupy him, had the time to meet these villagers.

Having once been a commoner himself, he treated them with patience. Over three or four days, he met each of them, gaining a deeper understanding of Qiuping County.

Most visitors simply wanted to see their new County Magistrate.

Others, like landlords and local gentry, sought to curry favor for future benefits.

Only a handful had actual problems to bring before Yun Zhangxie.

After assessing their situations, Hunter Chen brought these select few to meet Yun Zhangxie.

There were four in total.

The first was an old woman, gray-haired and dim-eyed with age.

She had come to plead with the County Magistrate to help find her lost granddaughter.

She had only one son in her lifetime, who was an itinerant peddler.

Later, due to an accident, her son and son-in-law drowned while on a boat, leaving only a young granddaughter to care for.

The grandmother had always treated her granddaughter as her lifeline, but she never imagined she'd disappear last year.

She had reported it to the authorities, and the former County Magistrate Yun had even dispatched constables to search everywhere, but no clues were found.

Many people said her granddaughter was surely lost—either carried off by wild beasts in the mountains or snatched by child traffickers.

She refused to accept it and wouldn’t give up.

For the past year, she'd been begging neighbors for help.

But she was just an old woman with no money or skills, making it truly difficult to find someone.

When she heard the new magistrate had arrived—a Tanhua-ranked official, no less—she thought he must be very capable.

That’s why she came to plead her case, hoping the new magistrate could help find her granddaughter.

After listening to her story, Yun Zhangxie commissioned the county artist to draw a portrait of her granddaughter.

Once the portrait was done, it would be posted throughout the county. If anyone had seen her, they'd likely report sightings for the reward.

The old woman had no money, so the reward would have to come from the county office.

But the county coffers were empty, with little funds in its accounts.

In the end, Yun Zhangxie decided to pay the reward himself.

Over the past few years, he'd amassed considerable wealth from selling Beauty Cream, so he wasn’t short on money now.

The second was a young widow, remarkably pretty.

She came to ask Yun Zhangxie to help her find her stolen keepsake.

Her late husband was a merchant who had left her a golden locket, telling her it was her safety net if she ever fell into hardship.

The locket was extremely valuable and a memento from her late husband, so she had kept it carefully hidden.

But just a few days ago, the locket suddenly vanished.

The item was too precious, and she wanted it back, but she didn’t know who had stolen it.

After listening carefully, Yun Zhangxie asked, “Who knew you had such a valuable item?”

“My husband’s elder sister, her husband, and one of his friends. Besides them, my younger brother also knew.”

Yun Zhangxie nodded. “Did any of them visit you in the past couple of days?”

“Yes, two of them came. First my younger brother, then my husband’s sister. They both came to bring me things. Since my husband passed, living alone has been difficult, so they often visit to check on me.”

“I see. Go to the artist and have a sketch made of the locket, then return home and wait patiently.”

Seeing Yun Zhangxie’s confident expression, Hunter Chen couldn’t help but edge closer and whisper, “Sir, do you know who stole it?”

“No.”

“No? But you look so relaxed—I thought you knew.”

“It’s fine, nothing to worry about. I have methods to get it back.”

Over the years, Yun Zhangxie hadn't only devoted himself to studies—he'd also been diligently practicing Beast Mastery.

Now, he could understand what many small animals said.

This meant he not only had constables at his disposal but also numerous small creatures serving as his eyes and ears.

Finding people or retrieving lost items—such minor cases were well within his capabilities.