Chapter 88

After resting in Fuyang for two days, it was now the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, known as the 'Soul Collecting Day.' As the name suggests, everyone should gather their spirits, students should focus on their studies, workers should return to their workshops, farmers and merchants should resume their trades, and the government offices should start working properly.

On this morning, County Magistrate Wei, dressed in his official attire, led all the officials of the county to first pay respects to the Earth God and the Office God, praying for a year of favorable weather and harmonious governance. Strangely enough, as soon as the incense was lit, the sky turned overcast, and raindrops seemed to appear on the ground.

"I'm doomed, I didn't pray to the Dragon King..." County Magistrate Wei came out of the Earth God Temple with a dark face. It's said that every county magistrate's face would be grim after leaving the Earth God Temple, because the Earth God Temple in the Ming Dynasty was also called the Skin Market Temple. Inside, besides the Earth God, there were several human specimens, which were made by stuffing straw into the skins of corrupt officials executed by the founding emperor, used as anti-corruption props.

Back in the main hall, the officials lined up, and the magistrate gave a few words: "At the beginning of the new year, everything is renewed, diligence is required, and there must be no slackness." Then he asked County Deputy Jiang, "Is there anything else?"

"What could there be at the start of the year?" County Deputy Jiang shook his head and said, "But there is one thing..." He then glanced at Wang Xian, who was standing in the line of clerks, and said, "Three days ago, at the Lantern Festival poetry gathering on West Lake, Scholar Hu evaluated the poems of our Zhejiang students and selected the first place winner, who is from our Fuyang County."

"Oh?" County Magistrate Wei said indifferently, "Who is it?"

"This person is not a scholar," County Deputy Jiang shook his head.

"Then it must be a recluse?"

"Not a recluse either." County Deputy Jiang didn't keep the suspense and pointed at Wang Xian, "It's Wang Xian, the registrar under your command."

"Him?" County Magistrate Wei glanced at Wang Xian and said expressionlessly, "Brother, didn't you hear wrong?"

"No, I didn't. Here is Wang Xian's poem as proof." County Deputy Jiang took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and read out the poem "Lantern Festival Poem."

"Good poem, good poem!" County School Instructor Han clapped his hands in praise, but saw that everyone else was expressionless... During the official lineup, clerks were just background figures, and they had no place to speak. The officials like the chief clerk, patrol inspector, and postmaster were all promoted from clerks and lacked the ability to appreciate. But shouldn't County Magistrate Wei and Chief Clerk Diao have some reaction? But they showed no expression at all... This made County School Instructor Han feel uneasy and ask, "Is it not good?"

"Good," County Deputy Jiang said, "How could it be rated first by Scholar Hu if it wasn't good?"

"Then why..." County School Instructor Han, who was too bookish, was at a loss.

"Neglecting official duties!" County Magistrate Wei snorted.

"Is writing poetry something a clerk should do?" Seeing that the magistrate also disliked Wang Xian, Chief Clerk Diao was overjoyed and added, "I heard he didn't know anything before, and suddenly came up with such a poem. He must have found a ghostwriter, right?!"

"How could that be possible?" County School Instructor Han was a genuine bookworm; otherwise, he wouldn't have been an instructor for over twenty years. "Such brilliance is rare even in the Ming Dynasty. How could he be content to be a ghostwriter?"

"There are many impossible things in this world!" Chief Clerk Diao glared at him angrily and stood up, bowing and saying, "Wang Xian also injured my daughter. Please, Your Excellency, uphold justice!"

At this, the hall was in an uproar, wondering how Miss Diao got involved with Wang Xian.

"Is this true?" County Magistrate Wei looked at Wang Xian and said, "You scoundrel, why don't you confess?"

"Your Excellency." Wang Xian quickly stepped forward and said, "The situation that night was chaotic. Please allow me to explain slowly." He then began to describe the scene, saying, "There were ten of us at the table, nine men and one woman, who was Miss Diao..."

"Cough, cough..." County Magistrate Wei quickly interrupted him, "Nonsense, how could Miss Diao, a woman, join in with nine men drinking?"

"She was the 'recorder'..." Wang Xian hurriedly replied.

"Ha... Ha..." The hall erupted in suppressed laughter, and the officials almost burst out laughing but had to maintain their serious faces. The term 'recorder' originally referred to an official position, like a recorder officer. Later, the person who supervised drinking at banquets was called a 'recorder.' Eventually, because courtesans often supervised drinking at banquets, it became a euphemism for courtesans.

In short, 'recorder' was another term for a courtesan...

"Nonsense!" Chief Clerk Diao, his face purple with anger, said, "How dare you defame my daughter's reputation, Your Excellency, how should a clerk who insults a superior be punished?"

"Uh..." County Magistrate Wei glared at Wang Xian angrily. "How dare you slander?"

"Your Excellency, if I lie, may I be struck by lightning." Wang Xian swore to the heavens. "The scholars who drank that night are all in the county. Your Excellency can summon them for questioning!"

After the divine worship, the officials in the hall believed he wouldn't curse himself, and with so many witnesses, lying wouldn't hold up. Thus, their gazes toward Chief Clerk Diao changed...

'Chief Clerk Diao's daughter has always had a bad reputation...'

'It's said that even after marriage, she still associates closely with the students...'

'Sigh, such a daughter, better to strangle her...'

'What a slut, I wonder if I have a chance...'

Chief Clerk Diao was stunned, realizing that his daughter hadn't told the truth... She had said that men and women sat at separate tables!

County Magistrate Wei didn't dare to ask further. In the main hall, this was not a place for such talk. If there were more scandalous details, would Chief Clerk Diao still have a face? Thinking of this, he sternly said, "Matters involving women should be spoken of cautiously!"

"Yes..." Wang Xian immediately shut up, but there wasn't much left to say anyway.

"Brother Diao, as one of the three main officials of the county, you should set a good example." County Magistrate Wei looked at the embarrassed Chief Clerk Diao and said, "If you want to sue this scoundrel, write a petition and submit it when the court is open. I will handle it fairly!"

"Yes." Chief Clerk Diao didn't dare to press further. He realized that County Magistrate Wei didn't take the opportunity to attack Wang Xian, which might mean his judgment was wrong...

"You scoundrel, you were supposed to be promoted to registrar, but now it's on hold." County Magistrate Wei glared at Wang Xian and said, "We'll see after the case is investigated!"

"Yes..." Wang Xian said helplessly. It wasn't that he was upset about losing a promotion, but rather because County Magistrate Wei kept calling him a 'scoundrel,' and he wondered where this resentment came from?

After the official lineup, Wang Xian didn't go back to the household office to give a speech. Instead, he went straight to the back office to request an audience... In the past, he could enter the signing room without announcement, but today the gatekeeper wouldn't let him in.

"Old Niu, you scoundrel." Wang Xian glared at him and whispered, "I gave you two hundred taels before the New Year..."

The gatekeeper, Niu Wenyuan, smiled bitterly and said, "How dare I stop the registrar? It's just that Your Excellency said not to let you in."

"Help me get in and say something," Wang Xian said, "Maybe you heard wrong."

"I dare not." Niu Wenyuan, still shaken, said, "Your Excellency is very strict now. Those who don't follow orders and act on their own have been punished..."

"I'll come back later then." Wang Xian had no choice but to return to the household office. After lunch, he went to a small courtyard near the government office to find Sima Qiu. Recently, Sima Qiu had taken a young mistress, and everything from finding a pimp to renting a house was arranged by Wang Xian...

When he knocked on the door, a tall, plump woman with large breasts greeted him, covering her mouth and laughing, "The matchmaker has come, please come in." She was Sima Qiu's new mistress, Ruhua. People have different tastes; Sima Qiu had a particular fondness for large breasts... Wang Xian maliciously thought, maybe Sima Qiu didn't get enough milk as a child?

Ruhua led Wang Xian into the house, where a few exquisite dishes were laid out on the table. Sima Qiu was swaying and drinking wine. Seeing Wang Xian, he called out, "What wind brings you here? Are you here to warm the pot for me?"

"I warmed it for you on the sixth day of the month." Wang Xian rolled his eyes and sat down, saying, "Mr. Sima, you're 'new wife in, old matchmaker out'!"

"Don't say that, I'm very grateful to you." Sima Qiu smiled and held Ruhua's hand, "You found me such a beautiful treasure."

"Stop it." Ruhua blushed and covered her face. She was actually quite pretty, just very fat, with a large, round face that her hands couldn't cover.

"Ha..." Wang Xian almost sprayed water on the couple.

"Darling, you go down first." Sima Qiu patted Ruhua's hand and said, "I need to talk to Registrar Wang."

After Ruhua obediently left, Sima Qiu picked up a clove and slowly chewed it until his mouth was fragrant, then teased, "So, you can't hold it in for half a day?"

"Of course not, the longer it goes, the more distant we become." In front of Sima Qiu, Wang Xian was completely open, "If Your Excellency and I become distant, I'll have time to bring my old sister-in-law to reunite with you."

"Go to hell!" Sima Qiu knew he was bluffing but still broke out in a cold sweat, "Don't scare me with that tigress!"

"Mr. Sima, do unto others as you would have them do unto you," Wang Xian said with a bitter smile.

"Alright, alright." Sima Qiu also smiled bitterly, "Your Excellency told me to give you at least ten days, but who can resist a good meal?" He then said seriously, "To be honest, Your Excellency is very unhappy with your performance at the Lantern Festival."

"Why?" In the official world, there were no secrets, especially in such a public setting. Wang Xian wasn't surprised that County Magistrate Wei knew so quickly.

"Isn't it obvious?" Sima Qiu glared at him, "When Scholar Hu asked about your teacher, why did you say you were self-taught? Where does that leave Your Excellency?"

"Your Excellency didn't allow me to tell outsiders..." Wang Xian cried out in protest, "Without permission, how could I tell Scholar Hu?"

"But you should have known better!" Sima Qiu had a 'how can you be so stupid' look, "This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Those old officials won't gather again to listen to your explanation."

"They won't..." Wang Xian shook his head and couldn't help but laugh bitterly. This County Magistrate Wei was really too sensitive. "But what can I do now?"

"Fortunately, you didn't accept Xu Tixue's invitation and even spoke well of Your Excellency." Sima Qiu smiled, "So although Your Excellency is angry, his feelings toward you haven't changed. Didn't you see from this morning's incident with Chief Clerk Diao?"

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