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Join the ServerWei Xiuqin looked towards Wei Mother.
Wei Mother’s gaze was complex. “Go,” she urged.
Wei Xiuqin proceeded to open the door.
As anticipated, Ji Xiao entered.
Upon stepping inside, Ji Xiao immediately spotted Wei Xiuyuan kneeling on the floor and, without a word, knelt beside him.
Before Wei Mother could speak, Ji Xiao interjected, “Please, Aunt, do not blame Ziyan.”
Wei Xiuyuan closed his eyes briefly, remaining silent.
Wei Mother let out a cold snort. “I always thought highly of you, but I never imagined you would do such a thing!”
If there had only been suspicion before, Ji Xiao’s act of kneeling now confirmed that he and Wei Xiuyuan truly harbored feelings for each other.
“Yes, it is all my fault,” Ji Xiao said sincerely. “Ziyan was merely coerced by me. I am willing to accept any punishment from you, Aunt, so long as you do not fault Ziyan.”
“Stop it,” Wei Xiuyuan commanded.
Wei Mother’s expression grew even more intricate.
She knew her own son well.
“The story you told earlier about your cousin, were you trying to deceive me?” Wei Mother asked, looking at Ji Xiao. “Were you trying to use that story to threaten me?”
It was as if she believed that if she disagreed, they would suffer the same fate as those in the tale.
Ji Xiao met her gaze without a hint of guilt. “It is true.”
Black Cat: ‘My host is once again spouting nonsense with a straight face.’
“And if I do not agree…” Wei Mother began.
Ji Xiao spoke with deep sincerity, “Then Ziyan and I shall merely be friends. I will not hinder him if he wishes to marry and have children. However, I will never take a wife myself. I can only promise to watch over him from afar, never disturbing him.”
His words were imbued with profound affection and righteousness.
Yet, Wei Xiuyuan did not believe a single syllable.
He suspected that if he were truly to marry, Young Master Chen would undoubtedly abduct him and confine him to the Chen Residence.
While Wei Xiuyuan remained unconvinced, Wei Mother and Wei Xiuqin believed him.
Wei Xiuqin opened her mouth to speak several times, but feeling that there was no place for her words, she quietly sealed her lips.
Wei Mother spoke to Ji Xiao with a cold tone. “You may leave.”
Ji Xiao bowed deeply to her. “Please, Aunt, do not make things difficult for Ziyan. All of this is my fault.”
“My son is not your concern.”
“…Yes.”
Ji Xiao stood up, appearing utterly heartbroken, and left with a slight stumble.
Only then did Wei Mother turn her gaze to Wei Xiuyuan. “If I insist you marry…”
Wei Xiuyuan lowered his head. “Your son will not marry.”
Having spent many days with Ji Xiao, he knew him well.
Though Ji Xiao seemed harmless and clingy, Wei Xiuyuan was deeply convinced that if he truly took a wife, Ji Xiao would be the first to torment him, ensuring the matter became widely known.
“Go back to your room!” Wei Mother fumed.
Wei Xiuyuan’s lips trembled. He bowed deeply. “Your son takes his leave.”
As soon as he departed, Wei Mother’s tears began to flow. “What a tragedy!”
Wei Xiuqin quickly supported her. “Mother, please don’t be sad. I’ll go ask the doctor tomorrow. Perhaps… perhaps it can be cured?”
With her daughter’s help, Wei Mother slowly sat down, wiping away her tears. “Chen Xiao is the son of the richest man. The Chen family is not stingy when it comes to good deeds, having donated military funds multiple times and provided relief during natural disasters. Even the Emperor gives the Chen family some respect.”
Wei Xiuqin remained silent.
“Seeing his deep affection for Yuan’er, if I truly force Yuan’er to marry, do you think he would genuinely be content to merely watch from the sidelines, without causing any trouble?”
Wei Mother’s eyes were brimming with tears.
“Though I am but an ordinary woman, I know that a son of the wealthiest man would never truly concede to such an extent. I fear there is some truth to his claims of coercing your brother.”
Wei Xiuqin opened her mouth. “But Brother…”
“Yes, your brother undoubtedly has feelings for him too, but how it all began, who can truly know?” Wei Mother said with a bitter smile.
“I have failed your father.”
Wei Xiuqin leaned down, resting intimately against her mother. “Mother, don’t be sad. I… I won’t marry. I’ll find a husband to move in, and the children we have will be the Wei family’s descendants.”
Wei Mother stroked her head. “What foolishness are you speaking?”
“Mother, I’m serious.”
“Don’t overthink it. No good man would be willing to marry into a family.”
“Mother~”
“Enough of this. Go rest.”
Wei Xiuqin hesitated. “What about Brother…?”
A look of worry clouded Wei Mother’s face.
The tragic story Ji Xiao had told about his cousin’s family had, after all, left its mark on her heart.
If she were to harden her heart and force Wei Xiuyuan to marry, what would happen if his wife discovered his situation?
What if his wife brought her family to cause a scene?
Could Wei Xiuyuan even perform with a woman?
Even if he could, even if they kept it a secret, would Chen Xiao truly stand by and watch without causing trouble?
Wei Mother and Wei Xiuqin walked back to their rooms together.
Meanwhile, Ji Xiao had already scaled the wall and slipped into Wei Xiuyuan’s room.
Wei Xiuyuan was bathing in the room and, hearing the commotion, did not even lift his head. “Was what Young Master Chen said earlier true? If I marry, you won’t interfere?”
Ji Xiao approached him, bending down to bite his ear. “You’re dreaming! If you dare to marry, I’ll lock you up. No one will see you but me.”
Wei Xiuyuan: “…” He knew it.
“Ziyan…”
“Don’t bother me, I need to bathe.”
“I’ll help you.”
“You scoundrel!”
****
Wei Xiuyuan did not remain in the capital for an official post. Instead, he was dispatched to Ruanzhou City, Yuncheng County—a region that had recently suffered a disaster—to serve as the county magistrate.
For a top scholar to be appointed as a county magistrate in a disaster-stricken area was truly unexpected, astounding everyone.
Only Wei Xiuyuan knew that the Emperor was displeased by his audacity in politely declining the imperial betrothal.
Despite being unmarried and unbetrothed, he had still refused the Emperor’s arranged marriage.
Wei Mother began packing the family’s luggage.
Ji Xiao, too, returned to the Chen Residence and sought out Steward Chen.
“I am going on a long journey. I trouble you, Uncle Chen, to prepare guards and a carriage for me.”
Steward Chen inquired, “Where is Young Master going?”
“Ruanzhou City, Yuncheng County.”
“Hasn’t that area just suffered a flood? Why would Young Master go there?”
“A friend of mine is going there to take up a post, and I wish to support him, as well as enjoy some sightseeing along the way.”
Steward Chen was somewhat speechless; what was there to enjoy in a disaster area?
“Uncle Chen, I am not asking for your permission.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Steward Chen agreed, then immediately sent a carrier pigeon message to Mother Chen at the Chen Residence.
Ji Xiao then instructed, “Qiu Zhi, go to the account office and retrieve fifty thousand taels in silver notes. Then, help me pack my valuables. Pack yours as well; this time, besides the guards, I am only taking you.”
Qiu Zhi softly asked, “It will be a tiring journey by carriage, Young Master. Will you not bring two maids to serve Madam Wei and Miss Wei?”
Ji Xiao gave them an approving look. “Choose two well-behaved, sensible, and capable maids to accompany us.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
Given the potential for banditry in the disaster area, Steward Chen dared not stop the young master. Instead, he diligently selected twenty skilled guards to accompany them.
The procession was quite grand.
With this departure, everyone in Ancheng knew that Chen Xiao, the son of the wealthiest man, and Wei Xiuyuan, the top scholar, had left Ancheng together.
Their journey involved only three carriages.
Ji Xiao and Wei Xiuyuan rode in the first, Wei Mother and Wei Xiuqin in the middle, and the two maids and Qiu Zhi in the last.
Twenty guards rode on horseback alongside them.
Inside the middle carriage, Wei Xiuqin touched the seat beneath her. “This carriage is so comfortable.”
Wei Mother grunted, saying nothing.
Wei Xiuqin whispered, “For a young master who has enjoyed immense wealth and luxury since childhood to be willing to go with Brother to a disaster area for official duties, it truly shows his feelings for Brother.”
Wei Mother sighed softly. “I fear your brother will be slandered.”
“He won’t be,” Wei Xiuqin reassured her. “No one will know.”
Wei Mother sighed again. “Alas.”
In the front carriage, Ji Xiao leaned softly against Wei Xiuyuan’s embrace, complaining, “Ziyan, I feel so dizzy. This is my first long journey, and the carriage is so bumpy.”
“Delicate,” Wei Xiuyuan said coolly. “This carriage of yours is very stable. You haven’t even ridden in a truly bumpy one.”
“Ugh, my head hurts.”
“…”
Wei Xiuyuan expressionlessly began to rub his temples.
Ji Xiao comfortably closed his eyes.
The journey from Ancheng to Yuncheng County would take a full fourteen days of travel.
Every night, whether camping outdoors or resting at an inn, Ji Xiao did not let Wei Xiuyuan off the hook.
Wei Xiuyuan snapped in exasperation, “Can’t you wait until we arrive before you…?”
“I can’t wait. I want you every day.”
“You scoundrel!”
“Be good, Ziyan.”
“Mmm.”
“Shh, don’t let them hear. I’ll be gentler.”
“…”
Black Cat, tucked away in the depths, watching the drama, felt their host was becoming increasingly unrestrained.
Ji Xiao: ‘Who set this task?’
The moment they entered Ruanzhou City’s territory, they encountered bandits.
Fortunately, the twenty armed guards were not to be trifled with; they could even defeat twice their number of bandits.
Ruanzhou City’s territory was visibly desolate.
Destroyed houses and fields, collapsed hills and trees, and emaciated villagers eyeing them with apprehension, yet not daring to approach.
Peering through the carriage curtain, Wei Xiuyuan’s mood grew heavy.
Ji Xiao, however, was entirely preoccupied with trivial matters, never ceasing his antics, which so infuriated Wei Xiuyuan that he couldn’t resist biting him several times.
Ji Xiao, sporting bite marks on his neck, remained nonchalant.
The guards, too, pretended not to notice.
Finally, they arrived at Yuncheng County.
As the carriage entered the town, the villagers on the streets stared intently, following it until it pulled into the county yamen.
The villagers’ clouded eyes faintly brightened.
“Is that the new county magistrate?”
“The imperial court hasn’t abandoned us? His Majesty hasn’t abandoned us?”
“Is this new magistrate a good one?”
“Will they be like the last one…?”
The villagers knelt one after another.
“We beg you, Your Excellency, please save us—”
“Your Excellency, please save us!”
“All the grain is ruined, we haven’t eaten in so long—”
The yamen runners, hearing the commotion, rushed over, fixing their hats and tying their clothes as they ran.
Since the previous magistrate had fled with his family, the yamen had been completely stripped bare. The secretary and yamen runners had all returned to their homes and had not returned to the yamen since.
A yamen runner cautiously approached Wei Xiuyuan and Ji Xiao. “Are you… the County Magistrate?”
Wei Xiuyuan produced his letter of appointment.
The yamen runner repeatedly waved his hands. “This humble one is illiterate. Someone has already gone to inform the secretary; the secretary will be here shortly.”
Wei Xiuyuan looked at the wide-open, messy, and dilapidated yamen, but asked nothing.
There was no need to ask.
It had simply been ransacked by enraged villagers.
The occupants of the two carriages behind did not disembark.
The guards, concerned about radical villagers causing trouble, stood rigidly, alert to their surroundings.
However, the villagers regarded the new magistrate as their last hope, and not a single one cursed; they merely kowtowed and begged for help.
Wei Xiuyuan asked, “Is there any grain left in the yamen?”
The yamen runner shook his head. “Not to mention the yamen, even this entire Yuncheng County cannot find a few grains of rice. The villagers are already so hungry they’re chewing on tree bark.”
Ji Xiao whispered, “Don’t worry. Besides the guards accompanying us, Steward Chen also arranged for armed escorts to deliver a batch of grain. If all goes well, it should arrive tonight.”
Wei Xiuyuan was moved. “Thank you.”
Ji Xiao smiled. “Your affairs are my affairs; there’s no need to thank me.”
Wei Xiuyuan looked at the scattered, emaciated villagers kneeling before him and declared loudly, “All of you, rise. I am the new county magistrate of Yuncheng County. With me here, you will never starve.”
The villagers remained kneeling, begging for help.
Some stared intently at the carriages.
Ji Xiao beckoned to the guard closest to him. “The carriage behind us has some grain. Bring it over and start making porridge in the yamen.”
“Yes.”
Wei Xiuyuan heard this and told the villagers, “Wait here. We will start making porridge now, and you can all have a meal first.”
“Thank you, Your Excellency—”
“Your Excellency is a just and benevolent official—”
“Thank you, Your Excellency—”
The yamen runners also wiped away tears.
Not many people remained in Yuncheng County; nearly half had fled.
The remaining ones were either elderly family members unwilling to travel far, whose children, unable to abandon them, stayed behind.
Some were abandoned elderly, women, and children.
Some…
In short, compared to the population before the flood, it was now roughly halved.
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