"Did the people from the brothel come looking for you?" Er Longzi asked, surprised.
Zhao Xiaojie glanced back, then cautiously replied, "I suppose so!"
Er Longzi: "......"
What did she mean by "I suppose so"?
"If you don't explain yourself clearly, I can't help you!" Er Longzi said, turning to leave.
This time, when he entered the palace, he not only informed the Emperor about the recent events in Dashui Village but also specifically visited Consort Xian.
Although Consort Xian resided in the cold palace, having let go of her desires and past troubles had made her appear much younger.
Er Longzi still wanted to chat with his master.
Seeing him about to leave, Zhao Xiaojie quickly grabbed Er Longzi, her face turning pale with fear. "Brother Er Long, you can't abandon me! Those people are coming aggressively. If they aren't driven away, I... I won't have a way to survive!"
Er Longzi was speechless. "Even if the people from the brothel are formidable, they wouldn't come all the way to Dashui Village. So, that group of people is definitely not as simple as you think!"
Now Er Longzi realized that this Zhao Xiaojie must have a hidden identity.
When he first entered the village, he had overheard villagers discussing a group of strangers lurking nearby. Er Longzi guessed correctly that these people were definitely looking for Zhao Xiaojie.
As Zhao Xiaojie was about to say something more, Xiao Jinfeng suddenly walked out. "Oh, Er Longzi, you're back!"
Er Longzi quickly stepped forward and bowed. "Master..."
"Come, let's talk inside!" Xiao Jinfeng, with a beaming smile, ushered Er Longzi into the house.
Zhao Xiaojie: "......"
So, you're not going to deal with my situation?
At the same time, in the county town, at the Yungui Workshop.
Yun Daman nervously clutched the letter, his eyes almost popping out of his head.
Prefect Chen sat leisurely opposite him, sipping his tea with a face full of joy.
"Daman, since His Highness has entrusted such an important position to you, you must do a good job and not let His Highness down!" Prefect Chen advised.
Upon hearing this, Yun Daman looked up and stammered at Prefect Chen, "Your Excellency, I... I'm afraid I can't handle such a heavy responsibility. You should let young master Xiao choose someone else!"
Good heavens, they actually wanted him to be the magistrate of Heyang County. He wasn't cut out for it.
It would be much better to stay at the Yungui Workshop and earn money with his wife, why bother with such unnecessary worries.
Prefect Chen raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "No, Daman, I'm not here to discuss this with you. This is an order, understand? Are you refusing to obey His Highness's command?"
If it were anyone else, upon hearing that they were to become a magistrate, they would have been overjoyed.
But Yun Daman, instead of being excited, was pushing back and refusing.
This made Prefect Chen lose a lot of face.
"Your Excellency, young master Xiao must have made a mistake!"
Yun Daman put down the letter and sighed. "Although I've studied and can read, I'm definitely not suited to be an official. My Guihua knows this; you can ask her. Whenever anything major happens, I lose my nerve. If I were to become a magistrate, the common people wouldn't agree either..."
He had been taught to read and write by Old Man Yun and Madam Gu, he had never attended a private school, nor had he participated in the imperial examinations.
Therefore, by all logic and reason, he had no qualification to be a magistrate.
Zhao Guihua picked up the teapot and poured a bowl of tea for Prefect Chen, then kicked Yun Daman under the table.
This useless man, refusing to become an official when offered, when so many people would break their heads to get the position.
Besides, if her husband became the magistrate, who would dare bully the Yun family in the future?
Take the current situation for example, many customers at the Yungui Workshop ate on credit and didn't pay for ten days or half a month.
But if Daman became an official, wouldn't the customers obediently deliver their silver?
Prefect Chen said with a helpless expression, "Daman, I'm just here to deliver the message. If you have any dissatisfaction, you can tell His Highness yourself when he returns. However, after I go to the prefectural capital, Heyang County will be under your management. If you don't understand anything, you can ask Advisor Zuo..."
After speaking, Prefect Chen stood up and dusted off his clothes. "Go to the county yamen tomorrow morning, and we'll complete the handover procedures. I'll leave the official seal for you. As for the official robe, you'll have to get a new one made; you can't wear mine!"
Yun Daman felt as if he were dreaming. He hadn't heard a single word Prefect Chen said, only watching his mouth open and close, babbling away.
"You are only acting as magistrate for now, don't put too much pressure on yourself!" Magistrate Chen patted Yun Daman's shoulder.
Yun Daman: "......"
You've already put pressure on me.
Zhao Guihua turned her eyes and smiled at Prefect Chen. "Your Excellency, congratulations on your promotion by two ranks! Don't worry, Daman will report to the county yamen tomorrow. If he doesn't go, I'll carry him there!"
"Shut up, you!" Yun Daman roared, his nose crooked with anger. "What do you know about important matters, you mere woman? Do you want to be an official that badly?"
Being a magistrate wasn't that easy.
Although it looked glorious on the surface, with the populace admiring you and people flattering you every day, in reality, the burden and responsibility on a magistrate's shoulders were greater than those of a prefect or a governor.
Not only did they have to develop the local economy, but they also had to manage the security, agriculture, animal husbandry, and the daily lives of the people in the surrounding villages.
If any couple argued or had a family dispute, they had to seek the magistrate's intervention.
Yun Daman thought about it for a moment and already felt exhausted.
Zhao Guihua pouted and gave Yun Daman a glare. "If Your Excellency asked me to be the magistrate, I'd pack my bags and move into the county yamen immediately!"
Yun Daman: "......"
This blockhead was making him furious.
"Then it's settled!"
Prefect Chen walked to the door. "Don't be late tomorrow morning. I'll take you to familiarize yourself with the environment. Oh, by the way, I'm hosting a banquet at my residence tomorrow noon. Go back to the village and tell your father and mother to come and join the fun, as a send-off for me..."
Mainly to celebrate his promotion by two ranks, after which his official career would be smooth sailing.
Yun Daman gave a wry smile and stood up to see Prefect Chen out.
As he walked back, he saw Zhao Guihua busy writing invitations at the counter. "Oh, such good news, we must invite the villagers to celebrate! I never thought my man would become a magistrate in his lifetime. His ancestors must have accumulated great virtue, haha!"
Yun Daman, speechless: "......"