"Could that person have been the County Magistrate of Gu'an back then?" Zhu Changle asked.
"No, the County Magistrate's influence in the local area was far less than that of the local gentry. Just by calculating who the beneficiaries were, you can figure out who was behind it."
Zhu Changle nodded thoughtfully, "Like County Deputy Magistrate Luo Ding's influence in the local area?"
"Exactly, like Luo Ding."
Zuo Qing came in carrying a wine jug the same size as Zhu Changle's. In broad daylight, he didn't dare bring a large jug to satisfy the fourth young miss's craving for alcohol.
Zhu Changwang took it and poured wine for both of them, continuing, "Since the incident in Yunbei, becoming the County Magistrate there has been a thankless job. None of them stayed for the full three years. Those who tried their best to leave were considered to have fulfilled their duty. Some claimed illness and didn't report for duty for long periods, others used mourning for their parents as an excuse to go home and never return. As time went on, it became increasingly chaotic. Having no County Magistrate for six months to a year became the norm. Meanwhile, LuoDing has been the County Deputy Magistrate for twenty-one years."
"Twenty-one years? How come it's been so long?" Zhu Changle was puzzled. "Doesn't this position require an evaluation every three years like the County Magistrate, to decide on promotion or demotion based on results?"
"The County Deputy Magistrate doesn't require evaluation. If Yunbei were a prosperous county, he wouldn't have been able to sit so comfortably. But in a place where even the County Magistrate is unwilling to come, who would want to be the County Deputy Magistrate?"
"Twenty-one years is enough time for him to turn Yunbei into his own territory, impenetrable to outsiders."
Zhu Changwang smiled, "There's something even more surprising. Luo Ding is a successful candidate in the imperial examinations."
This was unexpected not only for Zhu Changle but even Qiuli raised his eyes to look at Zhu Changwang.
"He took the provincial exam in Xingzhou and passed on his first attempt. Judging by his age, he was just over twenty at the time. His talent was undoubtedly good. But strangely, he didn't continue to take higher exams, not even trying once. Instead, he came directly to Yunbei to be the County Deputy Magistrate and has been here for twenty-one years."
Zhu Changle rested her chin on her hand and asked, "Is it because if he passed the imperial examination, he wouldn't be able to stay in one place like this, so he didn't take it?"
"That's a possibility."
"It feels like I've heard a story, with LuoDing as the protagonist. But now this protagonist seems like a bad guy."
Zhu Changwang chuckled. How could good and bad be judged so simply? Luo Ding must have had his reasons for staying here for so many years, reasons more important to him than a brighter future, important enough to make a scholar give up on taking the imperial examination.
Someone knocked on the door. Zuo Qing went to receive a piece of paper and returned to hand it to the eldest young master.
"As expected," Zhu Changwang said with a smile after quickly scanning the paper. He passed it to his youngest sister for her to read.
Zhu Changle waved her hands, "I don't want to read it. Big brother, can you just tell it to me like a story?"
Her aversion to reading had extended even to short notes. Zhu Changwang sighed helplessly and continued, "Luo Ding's ancestral home is in Yunbei, but his mother, Madam Fang, was married from Xinshui County, the administrative center of Xingzhou. Before the bandit invasion, Yunbei was known far and wide as a prosperous county. The two families were already relatives, so this marriage strengthened their ties. Later, when Yunbei was in trouble, the Fang family sent people to bring the pregnant Madam Fang back home."
"So Luo Ding was a posthumous child?"
"Yes."
Zhu Changwang slowly revealed another fact that could lead to many speculations, "The Luo family was one of the top families in Yunbei. On the day of Yunbei's great defeat, whether because their home was the closest or the easiest to loot, their house was emptied and suffered heavy casualties, including his father."
"So he came back to restore the family's glory? But why didn't he take the imperial examination? Wouldn't becoming a jinshi bring more honor to his ancestors? If he had tried and failed, it would be understandable, but he never even attempted it." Zhu Changle still couldn't understand. She looked at her brother eagerly, her desire for answers very apparent.
"That's also something I haven't figured out yet," Zhu Changwang said, reviewing the contents of the paper again. This was what their father had investigated using his position. Surface-level information was easy to find, but the deeper truths were not so easily uncovered.
Zhu Changle clinked glasses with Qiuli and drained her cup. The mellow wine aroma made her feel fragrant herself.
"I originally thought this Luo Ding was a big villain, the kind who used all of Yunbei for his own benefit. Now I'm not so sure anymore."
"Big brother is very curious, what do you base your judgments of good and bad people on? Whether they seem pitiful?"
"I just follow my feelings," Zhu Changle said, hands on her hips, completely unapologetic.
Zhu Changwang laughed, "In simpler terms, you don't use your brain."
"With big brother around, why would I need to use my brain? My brain is precious!"
"If one day I'm not here anymore..."
"Pah pah pah pah pah!" Zhu Changle's face changed instantly, and her voice along with it. "Big brother, what are you saying?!"
Qiuli glanced at the siblings. He could understand Zhu Changwang's acceptance of life and death, and he could also see Zhu Changle's obsession with her brother's life. It was something even he couldn't say a word about.
"Alright, alright, big brother misspoke. Don't be angry, Changle." Zhu Changwang softened his tone and motioned for Zuo Qing to bring over the medicine bottle from the bedside that Qiuli found familiar. "Look, I've been taking this medicine as you instructed. The fact that I can get out of bed today is probably because of this medicine."
Zhu Changle pouted, "Don't say such things in the future."
"I won't."
"I'll forgive you just this once." Zhu Changle coaxed herself into smiling again. Pointing at Qiuli, she told her brother, "This medicine is what Qiuli and I exchanged. It's good stuff. If it works well, we'll continue to take it... Hey Qiuli, do you have any more? This bottle won't last long."
Qiuli took out another bottle from his sleeve and placed it on the table.
As if afraid he might change his mind, Zhu Changle immediately took it and put it in her brother's hand. She turned and asked, "Is there more? I won't take it for free. You can choose any of my medicines. If we don't have what you want here, it's fine too. Just tell me the name, and I'll have the old monk make it for you. Or I can owe you a favor, which I can repay in the future."
Zhu Changwang gripped the medicine bottle tightly.
"I don't have any more on me, but I'll have someone send more later," Qiuli said.
"Qiuli, you're the best!" Zhu Changle fawningly picked up the wine jug to pour him a drink, but his cup was still full. She looked at him, then at the cup, her urging very obvious.
Qiuli picked up the cup and drained it in one go, while thinking to himself that to let her pour one cup of wine to express her gratitude, he first had to drink what was already in his cup. Was he actually greedy for this wine and wanted to drink more?
"Don't worry, when I see the old monk, I'll have him refine a miracle medicine for your throat. It'll make sure your throat has no problems at all!"
Zhu Changwang's gaze moved back and forth between the two, finally lingering on Qiuli for a moment longer. Changle was used to being doted on everywhere, so he couldn't tell if Qiuli's indulgence was any different from others.
At this moment, someone reported from outside, "Fourth Young Miss, Aunt Banlian has returned."
"Finally back!" Zhu Changle stood up to run, but remembering she hadn't finished her wine, she turned back to drink what was in her cup. "Zuo Qing, send the remaining wine to my room. Don't let anyone see it!"
Zuo Qing smiled and agreed.
"Come on, Qiuli, let's go trick Banlian together."
Qiuli stood up as well. This matter didn't really require his effort, but watching how she would trick Banlian seemed interesting.
