Chapter 81

The county magistrate's office covered ten acres, its grandeur and majesty evident at a glance.

Fusheng Yuan Shiwen got out of his ox cart, having arrived at the corner of the office. A breeze blew, refreshing his mind and spirit. Looking at the government office, a complex feeling welled up in his heart.

Lan Chongwen was naturally familiar, having studied together in the cold window, their literary talents being on par. However, he could not endure the hardship and joined a university scholar. After more than ten years, he was recommended to the position of an eighth-rank vice-magistrate, but in reality, he was a household official, not a regular court-appointed official.

As for Lan Chongwen, after enduring the hardships, he finally passed the imperial examination and was appointed as an official. He was now a regular eighth-rank official and could continue to rise...

Thinking about it, it was all fate. He showed his official badge and walked along the rain path toward an office hall.

Upon entering, he composed himself and saw Lan Chongwen talking to a young official who was nearly middle-aged. Seeing someone come in, they both stopped talking. The official remained seated, while Lan Chongwen, upon recognizing the newcomer, was surprised and clapped his hands, smiling, "Great! I didn't expect you to come—this is the vice-magistrate of the university scholar, Yuan Shiwen, and this is the county clerk, Zeng Lian."

Both greeted each other and sat down. Yuan Shiwen smiled, "I have read your articles, Mr. Zeng. Your annotated collections of 'Poetry Letters' and 'Bianshan Pavilion Collection' are well-known. I have read several pieces and have long wanted to meet you, this talented scholar!"

These words were warm and comforting, like a spring breeze. Zeng Lian, who had initially been somewhat reserved, could not help but smile, but then said with a hint of melancholy, "How dare I call myself a talented scholar? New talents emerge with each generation!"

Yuan Shiwen actually agreed with this. Zeng Lian was known for his literary talent, once the best in the county, praised by many, but due to bad luck, he failed the imperial examination several times and became an official as a scholar, which was quite a pity—after all, he was already on the list of higher officials.

Becoming an official as a scholar was also a path, but this person later indulged in literary thoughts in brothels, often behaving wildly after drinking, making it difficult for anyone to recommend him.

After a few years of such behavior, he gradually faded into obscurity.

Especially with the rise of talents like Yu Fan and Ye Qing, whose articles were no less impressive and even better, he was no longer valued and was removed from the list.

Lan Chongwen smiled and said, "Though you haven't been promoted to a higher rank, you have been promoted half a rank. What's there to be unhappy about? Let's have a feast tonight to celebrate together."

Seeing Yuan Shiwen's surprise, Zeng Lian smiled and sighed, "These are two matters. First, Mr. Lan has finally made it, transferred to the position of vice-magistrate in Pingshou County—originally, the vice-magistrate had become the magistrate."

"According to the rumors, he is a fellow scholar and won't stay in the position of magistrate for long, three to six years at most. Mr. Lan will finally become the governor of a hundred-mile territory."

Yuan Shiwen suddenly understood, feeling a mix of envy and jealousy. In this world, an official who becomes a seventh-rank magistrate has achieved his goal and will have a small divine position after death, benefiting his family.

Lan Chongwen then said, "It's just a hope, a lateral transfer. Mr. Zeng, you are also being promoted to a regular clerk, taking my position."

"However, as a regular clerk, besides your salary and integrity silver, you should not take anything else, or it will be easy for others to find fault. You should also avoid brothels, as it is improper and makes you vulnerable to manipulation."

Zeng Lian listened intently, stood up, and after a moment, smiled, "I will remember your words, Mr. Lan. Indeed, things are different now, I understand!"

Yuan Shiwen smiled, "Good, it seems that every time I come, you all get promoted and enriched. I am truly envious!"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh.

After laughing, Lan Chongwen, looking radiant, said to Yuan Shiwen, "Have you seen these three articles... 'The clear night after lying down is long, the life of the goddess is but a dream...' This line is heart-stirring, truly comparable to the 'Yi Wang Preface'!"

Yuan Shiwen nodded in agreement, "Yes, that's why I came this time. It's still some time before August, so I can accompany you to your new post in Pingshou County to meet this young talent."

Zeng Lian, who had always admired Ye Qing, felt a surge of jealousy at this moment.

Pingshou County · Ye Family Residence

After some time, the courtyard had expanded significantly, connected with other courtyards. The windows of the study were not made of paper but of cicada-wing gauze, an extremely valuable decoration. Opening the windows, one could see the artificial mountains, waterfalls, and streams in the courtyard, a scene of elegance and refinement.

The walls were uniquely decorated with dozens of densely arranged sheets—each containing content from the Three Classics and Five Canons.

"Qianqian," Ye Qing saw Qianqian lay out the Xuan paper and bring tea. He took a sip and pointed to the sheets on the wall, "Don't underestimate these. They seem ordinary, but they are a secret technique for reading. Once revealed, they are just a layer of paper, but if not, they are worth a thousand pieces of gold."

Qianqian looked puzzled, "I don't understand, why are they worth a thousand pieces of gold?"

Ye Qing smiled, "These are the works of Luo Zicheng from the previous dynasty, condensing the Three Classics and Five Canons. Each sheet has a theme, collectively forming the 'Forty-Eight Dao.'"

"Look at this one, from the beginning, one, two, three, the five elements, clouds and rain, driving fortune, and harvesting. These are all great principles..."

Qianqian still didn't understand, "Isn't this just an excerpt from the classics? It's all very common, nothing new."

"Of course," Ye Qing's expression turned a bit melancholic, "You naturally find it unremarkable, but if you recite it thirty times a day, ten times in the morning, afternoon, and evening, over time, it will form a qi field in this room."

"The Dao of the Daoist Lord is not just about governing the world but also about governing the yin and yang of heaven and earth. Sincerely reciting it, using the Dao as a wall, brings countless benefits. Do you understand the meaning of hanging these here?"

Qianqian looked at Ye Qing, understanding his meaning, and nodded vigorously!

Ye Qing sat in a chair, playing with a new brush, gazing at the scenery outside, and murmured, "This Dao technique is passed down in noble families, and the more sincere and respectful one is, the greater the benefits!"

He thought far ahead and then came back to the present, smiling, "But it's like a twenty-year-old daughter red wine. It's a fine wine, but who is willing to spend twenty years on it?"

Ye Qing recalled that in his previous life, he had encountered danger to obtain this information. He looked at Qianqian, took a sip of tea, and said, "I don't need it now, so you can study here. In just three years, I guarantee you will have a solid foundation in Dao."

He then said to Qianqian, "Open the window."

"Yes," Qianqian responded and opened the window.

Ye Qing walked to the window, gazing into the distance, lost in thought. Suddenly, he smiled and said, "Send the articles I wrote to Mr. Lu!"

After seven years of refinement, Ye Qing felt that his articles had reached the peak of a scholar and could be considered a fellow scholar.

But the three thousand brilliant articles he remembered were not without value.

Each of these brilliant articles had its own highlights, and no one could master them all. Taking one and refining it with his current level could further improve it, reaching a point where not a single word could be changed.

Now, he was waiting for the August provincial examination.

However, this opportunity for the dragon's grandson, which he had not heard of in his previous life, felt familiar. Whose fortune was being taken?

Luhua County, early morning of the 15th of the fifth month

Yu Fan had already received the bailiff's letter, detailing how to register all fortune-tellers and conduct thorough investigations.

He immediately called Mr. Kou to the Listening Rain Hall to discuss the plan.

Mr. Kou had not slept all night. Upon hearing the summons, he hurried over and bowed upon entering, "Lord, you called me?"

"It's already hot on the 15th of May!"

Yu Fan personally served a plate of watermelon, "Come, have some to cool your heart. This is the bailiff's letter, take a look!"

After saying this, he drank tea and closed his eyes, deep in thought.

Mr. Kou read the letter several times, remained silent, and walked to the steps, lost in thought. As dawn approached, the wind brought a wave of heat. After a long while, he turned back and said to Yu Fan, "Lord, you rewarded the bailiff with six hundred taels of silver. He has indeed put in a lot of effort."

"Look, there are 157 fortune-tellers in the entire county, including their origins, ages, reputations, and incomes. Even government officials don't have such detailed records."

Yu Fan, fanning himself, sighed, "I know all this, but I am worried and can't suppress it. These days feel like years!"

He paused, then said, "Don't look at me as a nobleman's son. Others think I have endless silver, which is laughable!"

"Even if the clan earns 500,000 taels of silver a year, divided among thousands of clan members, each gets only 500 taels. Throwing out tens of thousands of taels is just a plot in a novel."

"The Pearl Pavilion is good, but silver flows out like water. I can't help but be anxious!"

"That's true!" Mr. Kou was about to speak when someone entered and bowed to Yu Fan, "Young Master, it's dawn, and the time has passed. We have checked dozens of times, but we still haven't found the person you're looking for!"

"What?" Yu Fan's body trembled, his face turned pale, and he gritted his teeth, smiling grimly, "You idiots, is this how you handle things?"

At this moment, Mr. Kou suddenly shouted, "Lord!"

Yu Fan's body shook, and after a long pause, he asked, "Is that so? Checked repeatedly?"

The person responded in a low voice, "Checked repeatedly. Every new person has a record, but there is no fortune-teller from that time."

Yu Fan struggled to suppress his anger and then smiled, "You have worked hard. Pass my message to reward 300 taels of silver. No effort is in vain!"

As the person left, Yu Fan muttered to himself, seemingly asking Mr. Kou, "What should we do now?"

"Lord, I thought of the same thing," Mr. Kou said solemnly. "Since I joined your service, I have been thinking about this."

"Lord, there may be a hundred or a thousand reasons for success, but reputation and family background can make people bow to you in normal times, but in critical moments, they are useless."

"In the end, it all comes down to power and money. Power can force obedience, and money can buy loyalty. For you, this waterway is too important."

"However, we cannot linger here. Lord, you must return to the manor to take charge. After two months away, there are already signs of unrest in the manor. This is your foundation."

"Lord, heroes are not without setbacks, but it is in their decisiveness that they succeed!"

These words made Yu Fan's body tremble, his eyes gleaming. He took a few steps and decisively ordered, "Investigate, continue to investigate. Check if this fortune-teller ever existed and who approached him. This opportunity cannot just disappear. Someone must have taken it. You will lead this investigation. I will return to the manor to meet my close brothers!"

As he spoke, a chill ran through his teeth.

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