Zhao Jingwen's fingertips were still trembling. The excitement still had not faded.
His wife Ye Suijin was now the Inspector and Military Governor of Dengzhou!
It still felt like a dream.
He had been left behind in Fangcheng by Ye Suijin to first assist Mr. Yang. He really learned a lot of pragmatic things from Mr. Yang.
Later, Mr. Yang left and went to the capital with Fourth Uncle Ye.
Fangcheng was very busy and chaotic, but he liked it because there was work to do. More than being busy, he feared even more being idle in Ye Manor, becoming a useless son-in-law who just ate and did nothing.
- People need to have things to do in order to demonstrate their value and have opportunities to gain power or status.
Before leaving, Mr. Yang had expressed approval of his ability to get things done.
Zhao Jingwen's observant eyes had long noticed Ye Suijin's different attitude towards Mr. Yang now. When working for Mr. Yang, he never slacked off.
He was not surnamed Ye, and did not have the natural confidence of the young masters of the Ye family. So he had to work hard in every way, to let others know he was good.
But Mr. Yang had left, the important figure was gone, and the matters of Fangcheng had become endless repetitions, losing meaning and becoming useless.
Zhao Jingwen really wanted to go back to Ye Manor to return to Ye Suijin's side. That was where the core of power lay.
But Ye Suijin had only summoned back Third Son Ye.
Every day there were messengers going back and forth between Fangcheng and Ye Manor delivering news, but Ye Suijin seemed to have forgotten about him.
Today, news from the capital arrived that everything Ye Suijin had requested, the Emperor had granted!
The people left in Fangcheng were bursting with excitement. The five brothers came to find him, "Brother-in-law! Go quickly and congratulate Sixth Sister on our behalf!"
How could Zhao Jingwen miss this opportunity? He immediately agreed, "Alright! I'll go back right away!"
Riding a fast horse, he galloped at full speed, his heart filled with longing, his horse's hooves like thunder, and arrived back at Ye Manor that afternoon.
The entire Ye Manor was filled with joy.
Even the gatekeeper of the Ye household congratulated him when taking his horse, and told him, "Third Young Master only just returned this noon!"
NanYang was closer than Fangcheng, so it was clear Third Son Ye had also hurried back upon receiving the news.
Zhao Jingwen walked quickly towards the inner manor.
Third Son Ye had returned earlier than Zhao Jingwen.
When Fourth Uncle Ye saw him, he giggled.
Third Son Ye: "?"
Since his younger brother Fifth Son was still in Fangcheng, he had no one to ask what madness his father was up to again.
Fourth Uncle Ye couldn't hold it in, and took the initiative to tell him, "Sixth Sister appointed me Deputy Executive Attendant! Heeheehee!"
The Deputy Executive Attendant was basically the deputy of the Inspector.
Alright. Third Son understood, his father was elated.
He went to see Ye Suijin in the study, with Fourth Uncle following behind, chatting excitedly all the way: "You don't know what the capital is like!"
"Ah, the city walls are so high!"
"Ah, the imperial palace is so big!"
"The Emperor gave us a lot of rewards, this trip was profitable, we even earned some!"
After returning, Fourth Uncle Ye had already been surrounded by many people asking about all sorts of things regarding the capital.
He was very happy to talk about it.
Only the matter of "the Emperor is actually just an ordinary man" was kept in his heart. After all, he understood this was not something that could be casually mentioned, or others would think him arrogant.
But when Third Son Ye asked about meeting the Emperor, Fourth Uncle Ye still couldn't help whispering to his own son, different from what he said to others, "The Emperor isn't that evil, he's also human. The princess also takes money to get things done, just like the concubines of the Inspectors in the past. When your Second Uncle and I were fighting with the Chen family over land in the past, we also went to the Inspector's concubine to get things done. She was also very trustworthy, as long as we gave money she would get it done, just like the princess..."
Third Son Ye found it both funny and absurd, yet also real.
In just over a month, it seemed the world in his eyes had completely changed.
Or rather, it was he who had changed, and was looking at the world through completely different eyes.
Ye Suijin and Mr. Yang were in the study, with Duan Jin standing by her side in attendance.
Even though the study now had new servants to handle brush and ink, tea and water, and to clean and tidy up, Duan Jin was always by Ye Suijin's side whenever Third Son Ye noticed.
But Duan Jin had also grown up watched by him, and was intimate with him. In Third Son Ye's eyes, he was certainly more trustworthy than some others.
As for the so-called others...he specifically meant Zhao Jingwen.
Unable to even write two Ye characters properly.
There were many servants in Ye Manor, intricately interconnected with their own networks of relationships.
Zhao Jingwen often secretly defamed Fourth Uncle Ye to gain favor with Ye Suijin, which did not escape notice. Third Son Ye more or less knew some of it.
He just didn't bother with it.
Ye Suijin was very happy to see Third Son Ye: "Third Brother!"
The delight in her eyes when she saw her fourth uncle and third brother could not be faked.
It was very obvious Ye Suijin did not believe those slanders. Third Son Ye felt gratified.
Third Son Ye first congratulated Ye Suijin on her imperial appointment as Inspector and Military Governor: "...At that time the city gates were buzzing with excitement. The common folk were so happy."
The Ye family had taken control of Dengzhou, and had done practical things, acting for the common people. Now that Ye Suijin had the formal title and official post appointed by the Son of Heaven, of course the commoners were happy for her.
Ye Suijin sighed, "In the minds of the common folk, there still needs to be an Emperor."
No matter how the Emperor changed, or how weak some specific Emperor might be, the existence of the "Emperor" itself still held an unchanging position in the hearts of the common people.
Wasn't that only natural?
Mr. Yang, Third Son Ye, even Duan Jin gave her strange looks.
They didn't know Ye Suijin had shared a bed as consort to an Emperor for over twenty years, and had long ago lost any awe towards the "Emperor" in her heart.
Only Fourth Uncle felt a twinge of resonance.
Third Son took a seat, and Duan Jin personally poured him tea.
Ye Suijin then asked about affairs in NanYang.
She received daily reports on major events in NanYang, naturally she was clear. But the specific details at the time, how the decisions were made, Third Son slowly recounted, giving a sense of being there at the scene, with thrilling danger.
Duan Jin standing with hands clasped behind Ye Suijin could also feel the difficulties Third Son had faced at the time.
Mr. Yang stroked his beard and smiled.
Only Fourth Uncle Ye felt distressed for his son: "He's gotten thinner!"
He had run all the way to the capital and hadn't lost any weight, had even gained some weight there, while his son had been worn thin taking care of things at NanYang right outside their door.
Ye Suijin's eyes shone gently.
The peace and growth of her brothers of the same generation brought her a sense of fulfillment that could not be expressed in words.
If everyone could live on like this, safe and sound for a lifetime, then just staying peacefully in Ye Manor would also be fine.
After finishing talking about NanYang, Third Son Ye glanced at Ye Suijin's desk: "I've been wondering since just now, what's this for?"
On Ye Suijin's desk, four teacups were inverted.
Ye Suijin tapped each tea cup in turn: "This is grain, this is horses, this is cloth, this is ironware."
Ye Suijin's fingertips gently circled the bottom of the cups.
"The remnants of Former Liang fled to the roads within the passes, and the Emperor sent his son-in-law and sons to pursue and kill them. The northern barbarians took the sixteen prefectures of YanYun and still greedily eye the south, always wanting to take another bite when the chance arises. The Emperor brought wolves into his home and now suffers the bitter consequences, anxiously guarding day and night unable to rest easy."
"By taking the initiative to surrender, it also eased the Emperor's worries, which is good for both sides. For the time being, everyone can live in peace."
"I'm afraid there won't be such good times again in the future, so we must solidly lay our foundations now. That will require manpower, grain, money, horses, cloth, iron, salt... I'm discussing with Mr. Yang about where to obtain these things."
Third Son Ye couldn't help but ask: "How many people do we have now? Isn't Dengzhou enough to feed ourselves?"
The grain taxes of the three counties had been made up in full. In NanYang he and Ye Jingyi had cracked down hard, extracting nearly all the arrears of the past chaotic years. Why was it still not enough to feed the Ye family army?
"There are currently 2,700 men under arms, and recruitment continues with plans to expand to 3,000," Ye Suijin said. "But in the future, it may not be enough."
She continued, "People will grow more and more numerous, expenses will become larger and larger. If we don't plan well now, it will be difficult later."
Two thousand seven hundred men, Ye Manor had never had so many servants and retainers. Yet Ye Suijin's meaning was that this was just the beginning.
Third Son Ye unconsciously held his breath.
Fourth Uncle Ye smacked his lips.
But Ye Suijin did not continue on this topic.
She took out a paper and gave it to Third Son Ye: "Take a look at this."
Third Son Ye looked closely: "Oh, I'm a General now?"
Fourth Uncle Ye proudly said: "I'm the Deputy Executive Attendant, Deputy Military Governor."
On the paper were listed the structure of Dengzhou administration.
Ye Suijin was appointed Inspector and Military Governor of Dengzhou, commanding the Dengzhou army.
Fourth Uncle Ye was appointed Dengzhou Deputy Executive Attendant and Deputy Military Governor.
Mr. Yang was appointed as the military commander, with Ye Suijin placing him under her command. The others were also assigned official positions. The whole army consisted of the main branch of the Ye family, their retinues, and the household guards who had served them for many years.
Third Son Ye noticed that even Duan Jin had been given the title of Supervising Colonel to Accompany the Army, but he still could not find Zhao Jingwen after looking over the list a second time.
Ignoring Zhao Jingwen for now, he glanced up at his own father. His father was grinning from ear to ear.
He looked to Ye Suijin and said, "My father..."
He understood this arrangement well enough.
Ye Suijin stated directly: "Fourth Uncle will be my second in command for both military and political affairs. If anything happens to me, he will take over to ensure the people's loyalty to the Ye family does not waver."
Fourth Uncle Ye choked out indignantly: "Cough! Don't spout nonsense, bah!"
No one knew when it started, but he no longer had any intention of competing with Ye Suijin for power. All he hoped for now was that his niece would be well. With everyone following her lead, it felt like the path ahead was growing wider. "Fourth Uncle, there's no need to avoid the subject. This is just a precaution." Ye Suijin's mouth quirked up arrogantly as she continued, "I'm certain I will live well, and live even longer than you."
Mr. Yang and Duan Jin both guffawed loudly.
Third Son Ye also laughed despite himself.
Fourth Uncle Ye: "Bah! Bah! Bah!"
Just as the atmosphere was becoming harmonious, a servant came in to quickly report: "An urgent letter has arrived from Ruan County. The messenger is waiting outside."
"Oh?" Mr. Yang was surprised. "What business does Ruan County have?"
Ye Suijin's brows furrowed slightly.
The brief illusion that "everyone will be fine if we all stick together in the Ye family stronghold" vanished. The state of the world would not become peaceful and joyful just because she had been reborn.
She had been waiting for this for a long time. It was finally here.
This year, rebellious troops from the southwest had been harassing Ruan County, looting some goods before quickly retreating. Ye Suijin had been busy quelling the internal turmoil in various parts of Deng Prefecture, so she did not intervene. This led to repeated harassment by rebels afterwards.
The Ye family felt that leaving this unchecked would give the impression that Deng Prefecture was easy to bully. But at that time, Ye Suijin did not have the capacity to deal with it personally, so she made a decision.
She decided to send Zhao Jingwen to represent her in resolving these rebellious troops from the southwest that dared to disturb Deng Prefecture.
That was the first time Zhao Jingwen led troops independently and marched out of Deng Prefecture.
This was the starting point of everything that happened later.
And then came all that followed.
