CHAPTER 601: CHAPTER 601: THE MAGISTRATE OF ANZHOU

The Emperor was very angry, and the consequences were severe.

Zhao Junyao found a perfect scapegoat—That pair of absurd parents of Xia Ruqing!

There was one thing he never forgot. That night on the second day of the new year, he had merely brought Qingqing a few trinkets. Yet she wept in his embrace like that. He pondered over and over but couldn’t figure out why. So, he simply and crudely chalked up this account to the Xia Family Clan.

Zhao Junyao’s logic was very clear. If Qingqing is not happy, it’s your fault!

How domineering, right? But who makes the rules when one is the Emperor?!

By the end of February, Old Master Xia had received the transfer order from the Ministry of Personnel. His official position had been promoted from a Salt Transport Officer of Fifth Rank to a Prefect of Fifth Rank. Generally speaking, this was good news since he was being promoted after all. However, when Old Master Xia learned that his prefecture was Anzhou, he was stunned. Anzhou was another prefecture under the jurisdiction of Jiangning Prefecture and adjoined Dingzhou. Generally speaking, Jiangning Prefecture was prosperous and wealthy; most posts there were coveted assignments that countless officials elsewhere could only dream of securing. Old Master Xia was not only promoted but also stationed in Jiangnan. One could say it was a tremendous favor from the Emperor.

But when Old Master Xia received the transfer order, he couldn’t feel happy at all. He was nearly in tears.

Why? Because the previous Prefect of Anzhou had just been demoted to a Magistrate of Seventh Rank for failing to meet performance assessments. This was already the seventh demoted Prefect there. About to become the eighth, could he possibly feel happy about it?!

Anzhou, as the name implies, is by the shore. The Anzhou territory is very special, situated right at the fork of a large river. Jiangnan is known for its abundant rainfall, and this large river is geographically peculiar. The current is swift, the water deep, but the banks are shallow and the dykes unstable. With just a bit of extra rain, the dykes might collapse. Floods occurred once every three years on a large scale and once every two years on a smaller scale. The peasants planted crops only to have them flooded, and they were lucky enough just to scrape by, let alone escape poverty. Failing to complete performance assessments, these officials would naturally be demoted. Typically, it was a demotion of one or two ranks. If an official was unlucky enough to face a year of great disaster, the common people would be unable to sustain their living, and his performance would be in complete disarray. In such cases, he might be demoted by three ranks in one go, just like the previous demoted Magistrate.

So, the position of Prefect in Anzhou was known among officials as a trap. Those assigned there were either extremely unlucky or, like Old Master Xia, had offended someone. The more Old Master Xia thought about it, the more he felt like crying but had no tears to shed. But despite the urge to weep without tears, he still had to go; he was told he had to assume his post within a month. Moreover, there were rumors from the Ministry of Personnel that this was the higher-ups’ intention. Offering a bribe was useless! Old Master Xia, with no other choice, had to tell someone to start packing.

Lady Yao was extremely reluctant. Upon hearing the news, she began to weep and wail.

"Old Master, we have already established a home in the Capital City. That place has nothing, how can we go there!"

"Why don’t we just find some people, offer some silver, and just not go!"

Old Master Xia glared at her.

"Not go?!"

"If you have the silver, then you give it!"

"Was it you who established this residence?"

He knew in his heart that this was Xia Tingfeng’s home. He was a scholar, old-fashioned, but not despicable. It’s true that children born of concubines didn’t matter to him, and he would not leave his estate to them. But he also wouldn’t wrongfully claim Xia Tingfeng’s assets against his conscience.

"Move, move everything out!" Old Master Xia insisted.

Lady Yao was frantic.

"I won’t move! I refuse to move!"

"Old Master, how nice it is in the Capital City. In poor Anzhou, you can’t even find a decent family for a daughter to marry into!"

"Once we leave now, we can never come back!"

"What will become of Ruyi after this!"

Old Master Xia looked at her with disdain and snorted coldly.

"If you don’t move, have the nerve to live in Hou Mansion then!"

"If you move there, you won’t need to move again!"

What... now you even disdain your husband? They say a wife follows her husband, be he chicken or dog. But when a woman doesn’t even want to follow you, that marital affection... is seriously worth questioning.

Lady Yao was startled and wanted to say something else.

Old Master Xia threw another sentence at her.

"You don’t have to go. In the future, you can stay here. I will take Lady Wen!"

Having said that, he left with a sweep of his sleeve, and after that, he never set foot in the main courtyard again.

Lady Yao was immediately scared witless. What does the old master mean by saying this? Does he intend to divorce her? Does he want to make Lady Wen his principal wife?

"Humph! Dream on!" Lady Yao said viciously. "Unless I die! Otherwise, none of you will have it easy!"

The Xia Family was on the brink of soaring to great heights, and she would never willingly give up her position as the principal wife.

After saying this, she ordered the servants to quickly pack up.

Lady Wen was to follow Old Master Xia to Jiangnan Anzhou. Before leaving, she sent someone to Hou Mansion to bid farewell to Xia Caiying.

The person who came was a Maid named Hong Rui, a confidante of Lady Wen.

"Second Miss, Madam instructed that from now on, you will live here!"

"They say the eldest brother is like a father, and the eldest sister-in-law like a mother. Miss, living here is better than going with us to Jiangnan!"

Lady Ni sat in her seat and gently stroked Xia Caiying’s hair, smiling.

"To have such trust from Mother, I feel somewhat ashamed!"

In a great family clan, it is rare for an eldest sister-in-law to be like a mother. It is almost unheard of to have such confidence in an eldest sister-in-law to take care of a daughter, yet Lady Wen was very confident.

Hong Rui smiled again.

"Madam said she trusts the Young Master very much, and the Young Lady is kind-hearted!"

"In the future, please treat the Second Miss as your own sister!"

"Madam also asked me to express her deepest thanks!"

Having said that, Hong Rui stood up and knelt on the ground to kowtow three times to Ni Manxue.

Ni Manxue had never seen such a display. Coming from modest beginnings, she did not observe these formalities, so she quickly had someone help her up.

"She is indeed my own sister; Mother needn’t be so polite!"

Hong Rui stood up and smiled.

"Since that’s the case, I’ve delivered the message and will take my leave if there’s nothing more!"

Ni Manxue nodded.

"That’s fine!"

"Dong’er, escort Miss Hong Rui out courteously!"

"Yes!"

Upon returning from Hou Mansion, Hong Rui went straight to see the Second Lady.

"Madam, you needn’t worry!"

"The Second Miss looks very healthy. When she spoke to me in confidence, she said her sister-in-law treats her extremely well, just like a real sister!"

"She even hired a Teaching Sister for her!"

"Now the Second Miss can recognize characters and even compose poetry!"

It was then that Lady Wen finally felt relieved, her eyes reddening before she said with a smile, "I have always known that Tingfeng is a dependable child!"

Hong Rui smiled and nodded.

"Madam, you can truly be at ease now!"

"Wait a few more years, and when you come back to see her, the Second Miss will be a true lady of high standing!"

"All the young talents in Capital City will vie to marry her; you’ll be spoilt for choice even with your eyes closed!"

Lady Wen laughed out loud.

"You girl, go pack your things now. We’re about to leave!"

"Yes, Madam!"

At the end of the second month of the Sixth Year of Jiayuan, Old Master Xia led his family and dependents away from the Capital City, bound for his new post in Jiangnan.