Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Intimidation
County Magistrate Mo and the other two couldn’t sleep tonight and gathered together quietly after the third hour.
County Magistrate Mo was still somewhat indignant and whispered, "What do you all think about today’s events?"
"The Commandery Princess may be young, but she’s ruthless, killing people as easily as slicing vegetables." The County Magistrate was terrified by what he heard during the day, his voice slightly trembling. "Cai Ye is just a lackey backed by the Commandery Princess. What could we possibly do against him?"
The Chief Clerk wasn’t much better off, wiping cold sweat from his forehead with lingering fear. "I’m still sweating. Forget it, there always has to be a County Magistrate, if not Cai Ye, then someone else. Let’s just keep a low profile!"
The two gave in and then tried to persuade County Magistrate Mo: "Actually, before, County Magistrate Cai only stamped documents, and it was Steward Cai who did all the tasks. Let’s just pretend it’s the same as before, only now Steward Cai will stamp the documents himself."
County Magistrate Mo: "..."
County Magistrate Mo twitched his mouth, and after a while, squeezed out a sentence: "Alright, let’s just keep calm for these days."
Let’s endure until the Commandery Princess leaves Li County, then we can trip up that Cai Ye dog.
The County Magistrate and the Chief Clerk exchanged glances. After leaving County Magistrate Mo’s study, they went to the County Magistrate’s study to continue their whispering.
"County Magistrate Mo is not content and wants to challenge County Magistrate Cai. When the time comes, he will surely rope us in to push us forward. Which side do you plan to stand on?"
"I’m not taking any side, just doing my job honestly and collecting my salary. I’m not a fool. What good is it to stick my neck out for him? Even if Cai Ye is defeated, it’s not like I’ll become the County Magistrate. You’ve seen the Commandery Princess’s power with your own eyes; we dare not provoke her. It’s better to be honest and stay out of trouble."
"Makes sense. Let’s do that! Whoever wins doesn’t matter, as long as we don’t lose!"
The two who decided to lay low till the end gently clapped hands, forming a successful alliance.
...
In another courtyard, Chen Zhuo, the Chief Historian, was writing to his friend Feng Wenming, telling him everything that happened today.
By the end of the letter, his pen paused, and he added another paragraph.
"The Commandery Princess’s actions are not only a deterrent to other bandits but also to the hearts of those inside and outside the Prince Mansion. Elevating Steward Cai and Tang Yamen Runners is to completely control Li County’s county government."
"This is only the beginning, and such things are likely to happen more often in the future."
"Old Feng, the skies of the Prince Mansion have changed. Although the Commandery Princess is young, she is decisive, cunning, and capable. Compared to Prince Nanyang, she is even more so. We old retainers of the Prince Mansion should also let go of the past, adjust our positions, and serve the new master well."
After finishing the letter, Chen Zhuo put down his pen, looked at the vast night outside the window, and whether it was wistfulness or relief, let out a light sigh.
"Someone, deliver this letter back to the Nanyang Prince Mansion, and make sure it personally reaches Chief Historian Feng."
...
Yang Zheng was also writing a letter.
He frowned, gripping the pen, the tip scratching the paper as he wrote a few sentences he wasn’t satisfied with. He immediately crumpled up that piece of paper and threw it on the ground.
On the ground lay seven or eight of the same paper balls.
This letter was, of course, intended for his third uncle, Vice Minister in the Ministry of Justice, in the Capital City.
Vice Minister Yang was a high-ranking official in the court and also the clan leader of the Yang Family. Yang Zheng wrote a letter to Vice Minister Yang every three months, and he had written one just last month. The sudden need to write a letter now was due to his recent restless and unstable state of mind.
Yang Zheng did not want to admit that he had been frightened by the Commandery Princess’s murderous look, but now, torn with indecision and unable to write, it was indeed true.
Yang Zheng sat dazed for a long time and suddenly heard the fourth period of night signal outside.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sounds felt as if they were pounding heavily into his mind.
Yang Zheng shivered all over, and a thought suddenly flashed through his muddled mind. He gritted his teeth and, reinvigorated, began to write. This time, he did not hide or evade, plainly laying out the recent changes in the Commandery Princess’s behavior in the letter.
"...First there was Qiu Dianshan, and now there is County Magistrate Cai, plus the over three hundred bandits that were eradicated. Every single piece shows the Commandery Princess’s stubbornness, willfulness, and autocratic behavior."
"Your nephew is not liked by the Commandery Princess, and she makes things difficult at every turn. I don’t think I will last long in the position of Judicial Officer at the Nanyang Prince Mansion."
"Your nephew wishes to withdraw as soon as possible. Please, Uncle, help find another position for your nephew. I eagerly await your reply."
After finishing, Yang Zheng let out a long sigh of relief, feeling a mix of exhaustion and liberation.
Rather than being expelled in the future, it was better to seek other employment early and let another unlucky soul take on this role of Judicial Officer. He no longer wished to serve such a troublesome Commandery Princess.
...
That night, the one who had the hardest time sleeping was the newly appointed County Magistrate Cai.
Cai had come from a poor family and was unattractive. It was only thanks to his scholar’s title that he managed to marry.
His wife, who bore the surname Song, was ordinary-looking but diligent, capable, gentle, and virtuous. Since coming to Li County, she had borne him two sons and a daughter, managing everything from cooking to sewing.
Song was so excited she couldn’t sleep, frequently tugging at her husband’s sleeve. "The Commandery Princess really made you a County Magistrate? Am I not dreaming?"
"It’s not a dream; it’s real." County Magistrate Cai’s narrow eyes showed no sign of sleepiness, responding to Song for the twenty-second time, "The Commandery Princess not only elevated me but also supports me, leaving people here with me. After the autumn exam six months later, I can participate. With the scholar’s title, I can officially assume this position."
Song laughed for a moment and then began to cry again. "It really feels like a dream. I didn’t even dare to think it."
In the future, she would also be the County Magistrate’s wife.
County Magistrate Cai wiped his wife’s tears and whispered, "You haven’t witnessed the Commandery Princess’s might; I saw it firsthand in the military camp."
"That night, everyone went into the mountains to eliminate bandits, leaving only fifty personal soldiers in the camp. I, a useless person who can’t lift a hand or shoulder a burden, was in the camp. When Zhu Yidao led over a dozen bandits into the camp, I was so scared I wet my pants."
"With just one spear, the Commandery Princess killed Zhu Yidao. That spear was like a bolt of lightning or thunder. I’ve never seen such fierce might in my lifetime!"
"I’m not sure what the Commandery Princess sees in me, but with the kindness she’s shown me, my life now belongs to her."
Song choked back tears and agreed, "That’s right. People have a conscience; with how good the Commandery Princess is to you, you must be a good County Magistrate. Govern Li County well, and you will have repaid the Commandery Princess properly."
After thinking for a bit, Song asked softly, "The Commandery Princess shouldn’t want you to do anything against your conscience, right?"
County Magistrate Cai laughed, "What are you imagining? Da Liang has three hundred counties, and Nanyang County, located at the crossroads of the north and south, is fertile and prosperous, praised as the foremost county of Da Liang. The Commandery Princess is the ruler of Nanyang County. What could she want that she doesn’t have? Why would she need to do anything against her conscience!"
"The Commandery Princess elevates me to let everyone see that as long as they diligently work and are loyal to her, there will be a good future. A new emperor means new courtiers. It’s been a year since the Prince left; now the one in charge of Nanyang County is the Commandery Princess."
...