Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 179 Investigating Officials
into the night,

After dinner, when it was time to rest, Lin Daiyu arrived as expected.

After coming for several days in a row, Lin Daiyu seemed to have gotten used to it and would sit down next to the couch as soon as she entered the door.

Lin Daiyu looked at Yue Ling, who was wiping his face on the ground and humming non-stop, and couldn't help but smile and said, "Brother Yue seems to be in a good mood today, and he's even humming a little tune."

Putting down the cotton towel, Yue Ling sat next to Lin Daiyu, raised his eyebrows slightly, and replied: "Of course it's good. Starting today, we must completely reverse the situation in the city."

"After going out today, the city's warehouse received 800 dan of grain. This grain will be distributed to several towns that were severely affected by the disaster, which can save tens of thousands of lives. In addition, more than 100,000 taels of silver were received. With money and grain, the following things will be easier to do."

"Everything is planned."

After hearing Yue Ling's words, Lin Daiyu's mood gradually eased, and she praised him sincerely, "I knew Brother Yue would be able to do it."

But as soon as he said this, Yue Ling sneezed twice. Lin Daiyu smiled and took out her handkerchief to wipe the corners of his mouth.

"It seems like someone is talking bad about me behind my back."

Seeing Yue Ling frowning with a suspicious expression, Lin Daiyu smiled even more, then she also raised her eyebrows, pretending to be fierce, and said: "Anyone who dares to say bad things about Brother Yue behind his back will have a rotten tongue!"

Yue Ling slowly lay down on the couch, muttering in his heart: "She is so lucky to have a rotten tongue. I curse this kind of person to have a son with a rotten asshole."

Lin Daiyu also lay down on the couch with Yue Ling, resting her head on her own soft pillow and covered with a small quilt. She looked at the ceiling and asked, "Brother Yue, how is Sister Zijuan in the room?"

Yue Ling replied: "Don't worry, she's fine. She drank some brown sugar water this morning and felt much better. She's already fallen asleep by now."

Thinking about the pain on Zijuan's lips, which turned white, Lin Daiyu was really scared. "It's terrible. It seems like she lost half her life this time."

Yue Ling turned sideways, looked at Lin Daiyu and said with a smile: "If Miss Lin doesn't eat well and take medicine, she will be in great pain."

Lin Daiyu was startled, looked at Yue Ling pitifully, and asked, "Really?"

Yue Ling nodded, "Of course I'm not exaggerating, but Sister Lin is in much better shape now. Even if that day comes, I will be by her side."

Lin Daiyu blushed slightly, turned her head away, turned around, and stammered, "Who asked you to accompany me? Do you have any shame?"

The two of them lay on the couch together, speechless for a while.

Lin Daiyu was most afraid of having nothing to say. Once she stopped talking, she couldn't help but let her thoughts run wild.

"Brother Yue, how long do you think we should stay in Cangzhou City?"

Lin Daiyu started talking, but no one responded.

He tilted his head to look at Yue Ling and saw that his eyes were closed and he was breathing softly, as if he was fast asleep.

Seeing him sleeping soundly, Lin Daiyu felt a little distressed. "Brother Yue has been falling asleep faster and faster recently. I'm afraid he has been getting more and more tired lately."

Just as I was thinking this, I heard Yue Ling suddenly say, "Come back quickly, the car is coming!"

Then, Yue Ling struggled a bit.

Lin Daiyu was surprised. "Did Brother Yue also have a nightmare? There are things he is afraid of."

Lin Daiyu took the handkerchief again and gently wiped the sweat off Yue Ling's body. She then raised her little hand and patted Yue Ling's body a few times to comfort him.

Looking at Yue Ling's face, he had sword-like eyebrows, just like outlined by an ink pen, and his eyebrows were full of heroism. His slightly darker skin color, coupled with his angular facial features, made Lin Daiyu happy to see him.

After staring at him for so long, Lin Daiyu couldn't help but blush, so she turned her head away and no longer looked directly at Yue Ling.

After a while, seeing that Yue Ling was sleeping soundly, Lin Daiyu yawned lightly and felt a little sleepy, so she got up, closed the curtains, and went back to her room.

"It's good to spend more time in Cangzhou. If I can sit with Brother Yue like this every day, I can sleep much better. But it's hard for Sister Ke'er and the others in the capital. They must miss Brother Yue very much now..."

Lin Daiyu muttered to herself as she tiptoed onto the couch.

"Xueyan, please move a little further out, you're crowding me."

"Oh."

……

Early the next morning,

When Yue Ling woke up from the curtain, he saw Zijuan busy on the ground.

After walking out of the bed, Yue Ling asked with concern, "How is your health?"

Zijuan wiped her hands with the towel around her waist, and Fuli replied to Yue Ling, "Thanks to the master, I'm much better now." Yue Ling nodded slightly, "That's good. You don't have to rush. If there's work in the yard that can't be done, just find two maids outside to do it."

Zijuan nodded slightly, her heart filled with warmth.

"Now, please help me change into an official robe. Today I have to meet with the officials of various towns."

Zijuan did not dare to neglect her business, and hurriedly finished washing up with Yue Ling. She found a clean official uniform from the cabinet, put it on with Yue Ling, and dressed it carefully.

Then she tied her leggings with Yue Ling and changed into court boots. After going through the complicated process, Zijuan's cheeks were covered with sweat.

Gently wiping her cheeks, Zijuan looked at her "masterpiece" with great joy. Being able to help the master dress was something she had never dared to think about in the past when she was in her room.

Compared with Lin Daiyu's desire for Yue Ling's company, this little thing is the happiness she wants.

Zijuan helped Yue Ling to the bronze mirror and asked with a smile, "Let's see how it goes. I think the master looks extremely handsome and majestic in his official robes."

After putting on the official robe and seeing the peacock patch on the chest, Yue Ling felt a sense of righteousness in his heart.

In this life, I should work for the benefit of the people and do the right thing.

Yue Ling thanked him and walked out of the courtyard and went to the back hall of the yamen. He saw that the officials of all levels from the eight towns were already standing in two rows on the left and right of the hall. They all lowered their heads and stared at their feet, with worried looks on their faces.

They had also heard of some things happening in the city recently.

Since then, he has learned that the prefect and the magistrate have all been imprisoned, and the day before, Yue Ling even killed a wealthy merchant who had deceived him, announced his crimes on the spot, confiscated his property and exterminated his family. What a trick, I'm afraid that no censor in history would dare to do this.

If he sentenced someone to death without a trial, and if this got to the ears of the censors, he would certainly be impeached.

But Yue Ling was not afraid. Firstly, he could do what was convenient for him, and secondly, he was not afraid of impeachment.

Jia Yun was waiting outside the door. When he saw Yue Ling coming, he reported in a low voice, "Master, officials from all levels of the eight towns have arrived."

Yue Ling nodded slightly, strode through the corridor, came to the courtyard in front of the back hall, and walked past the officials of all levels in the eight towns without looking sideways.

Everyone bowed and saluted, saying, "Greetings, Marquis Anjing."

There were too many officials from the eight towns, and the back hall of the government office was too crowded, so Yue Ling ordered the servants to place a few long tables under the eaves of the back hall.

Yue Ling sat behind him, spread his hands flat, and placed the imperial sword on the table. The sound of metal making the officials below jump.

Looking around at the many officials, Yue Ling spoke again in a deep voice, "This marquis was on tour on behalf of the emperor, inspecting official administration and comforting the people, but encountered the two thieves Pu Zheng and Ji Qing, who deceived the heaven and the earth, exploited the people, plundered the land and filled their pockets. Chaos broke out in Cangzhou, and there were starving people everywhere, and people were suffering."

"I have arrested the two men and will interrogate them in prison. When everything is clear, I will certainly behead them and display their heads to appease the people. From now on, I will be in charge of all the important military and political affairs in Cangzhou. If anyone pretends to obey but actually disobeys, I will ask if this sword is good enough!"

Many officials could not help but sweat on their foreheads, and at this moment they hurriedly saluted and said, "I will obey your order."

Yue Ling looked around again and said, "Anyone who is an accomplice of Park and Ji should take the initiative to confess their mistakes to me. I will punish them according to the severity of the crime. Those who conceal the truth will be punished more severely."

After finishing talking about the rebel party, Yue Ling then told the highlight of the day.

If he wants to provide disaster relief and save the people of a prefecture, he must also ensure that the county magistrate working at the grassroots level is of the same mind as him, and that after the government order is conveyed, it will not be perfunctory.

Therefore, Yue Ling must conduct a strict investigation of officials today.

"Now, this duke will inspect the governance of officials and only look at three points. First, when you govern a region on behalf of the emperor, you should always take steps to comfort the people and appease them. Second, you should encourage them to study agriculture, sericulture, and water conservancy, and not neglect them. Third, you should be honest and upright in all matters concerning the criminal justice system, and redress the grievances of the people."

"If you have all three qualities, you are of the highest rank. I will recommend you to be promoted to the first rank after you stabilize Cangzhou. If you have two of the three qualities, you are of the middle rank. I will make a decision based on your performance during your term of office. If you have one of the three qualities, you are of the lowest rank. I will keep your official hat for now and give you only this one chance to reform yourself. If you are not good at disaster relief, you will be dismissed immediately!"

"You are useless if you have none of the three qualities. Today, I will strip you of your official robes and appoint someone else who is more virtuous!"

Officials at all levels in the eight towns trembled slightly when they saw Yue Ling's stern voice. Regardless of whether they were high-grade, medium-grade, low-grade, or waste, they all hurriedly responded, "We will follow the instructions of Marquis Anjing."

Yue Ling waved his hand again and summoned the government office's experience department, who carried several large boxes of documents into the courtyard. Then they walked in many minor clerks, who came to the long desk next to Yue Ling and examined the officials at all levels below one by one.

Yue Ling couldn't help but shake his head when he saw the county magistrates who were dozens or even dozens of years older than him coming to the desk, all as nervous and at a loss as in the interviews in his previous life.

"If I want to accomplish something, I can't let a corrupt official go, nor can I bury an honest official. I'm really short of manpower. Not only is there a lack of manpower in the city, but there is also a lack of manpower in the salt mines and farmland. I don't know when Lord Lin will reply to my letter."

At the right time, the first official who passed the interview placed his documents in front of Yue Ling for review.

"I, Nanpi County Magistrate Chen Youmin, pay my respects to Marquis Anjing."

Yue Ling came back to his senses, looked forward, nodded and said: "I remember you, you once wrote a letter about agriculture and sericulture. What is your rank?"

(End of this chapter)