My lord, spare his life!

Aside from the fact that the young man in mourning clothes had a red name (indicating he was a red-named individual), Zhang Yang was quite satisfied with him. This wasn't just because he didn't complain while working and his name remained consistently red without flashing randomly, but also because, importantly, he was the only person besides Zhang Dami who was willing to explore the map with her.

From the perspective of young people in mourning clothes—

Zhang Boyuan is absolutely insane!

What kind of prefect enjoys wandering around like that? Dealing with those sweaty, smelly commoners every day, she has none of the decorum expected of a royal official. She could be sitting upright in the prefectural government, discussing matters with her subordinates and debating with local gentry and powerful families, but what does she do?

He insisted on riding a star beast, running rampant all over the city.

They were either squatting on the ridges watching people clear land, or huddled in teahouses listening to the idle chatter of vendors and laborers, or covered in dust and mud playing tag with a bunch of kids. Where was even a trace of the dignity and composure of a noble family's scion? What Zhang family of Jiukan? Their identity was mostly fake.

He likes to pick up a bunch of junk that even beggars don't want.

She was so energetic that she couldn't sit still, patrolling the city every day, wishing she could measure every inch of the city with her feet, leaving no corner unchecked. At first, the young man in mourning was worried that she might have discovered something amiss.

It was only later that I learned that before he appeared, after Zhang Yang arrived in Weiyin County, she had always maintained this lifestyle. She basically left the government affairs to Fan Youdu and others, and only participated in the decision-making of a very small number of matters, leaving the rest to her subordinates.

The young man in mourning tried to apply eye drops to Zhang Yang.

Let's consider the possibility of sowing discord between her and Fan You.

As for the result—

It was unclear whether the woman was simply unable to understand, or if she understood but was merely playing along, or perhaps she was absolutely confident in controlling Fan Shuyan and using him for her own purposes. The subtle attempts to sow discord were not very effective.

Zhang Yang naturally didn't understand, but she had system logs, so she could ask others for help deciphering what she didn't understand. This action almost left Fan You and the others speechless. They didn't know whether to praise Zhang Yang for her magnanimity or call her mischievous for actually taking someone else's divisive words to the person involved. From then on, it was unlikely that anyone would dare to spread rumors or gossip in front of her again.

Everything has its advantages and disadvantages.

Fan You sighed, "In the future, we must never do that again."

It's better to rely on yourself than on others. Is it really that hard to study more?

Zhang Yang: "Why not?"

"If this continues, I fear that channels of communication will be blocked, honest advice will be ignored, and slanderous officials will gradually emerge." Seeing that Zhang Yangchong blinked without any sign of understanding, Fan You knew she hadn't grasped the point. So, suppressing the urge to have a heart attack, he explained in plain language, "If someone gives you feedback, pointing out someone's faults, and you turn around and tell that person the truth, who will tell you the truth in the long run?"

To put it more bluntly, this is also a betrayal of one's subjects.

"...I'm not one to keep my mouth shut. Besides, there's a difference between speaking ill of someone behind their back and daring to offer honest advice. If someone is truly upright, why would they fear being found out by the person in question?" Censors should present their cases openly and honestly, not secretly.

Fan You's expression was complicated.

Why are you looking at me like that? Did I say something wrong?

"That's right, my lord is right." Fan You sighed again. His lord saw things much more clearly than he did; it was his own oversensitivity and overthinking that made him hesitant and restrained. Perhaps, this was the meaning of "great wisdom appearing as foolishness"?

Just as he was feeling sentimental, he heard a familiar swishing sound.

He was familiar with the sound; it always made this noise whenever his lord took out that oddly shaped charcoal pencil to take notes.

Fan You's lips twitched.

"It's not that you need to memorize everything."

Zhang Yang: "A bad pen is worse than a good memory."

This statement was told to her by a particular observation sample.

Zhang Yang thought about it and realized it made sense. The system logs could indeed help her with backups, but the content they recorded was too complex and extensive. The longer the time, the more information there was, and the more easily useful information was buried under junk information. The best way was to extract and simplify the information in a timely manner.

Taking notes is the best option.

Fan You said quietly, "...If my lord could put three-tenths of his willpower into studying, with his comprehension, he would eventually be enlightened and understand everything, and there would be no need to take notes on everything."

Zhang Yang's wrist stiffened, and his eyes darted around.

She didn't know what was wrong with her, but she just couldn't concentrate on any book Fan You gave her. If she read too much, she would feel dizzy and lightheaded, as if the hypnotic effect was comparable to a sleeping potion.

"Uncle Yan is being too harsh." Yuan Xie smiled when he saw Zhang Yang's face turn slightly pale from Fan You's urging him to study. Fan You had always had an air of being an old man since childhood, always eager to teach, and he was still like that at this age. Those who truly want to learn will naturally learn, and those who don't want to learn won't learn even if you force them. The lord is just a slow learner, not someone who doesn't want to learn, so why urge him repeatedly? It's counterproductive.

Yuan Xie's mind raced, and an idea popped into his head: "Since this scoundrel wants to sow discord between our lord and Uncle Yan, why not grant him his wish?"

Fan You glared at him with a sharp look.

People who work quietly usually use earplugs to cover their ears.

Yuan Xie: "This is also to lull the enemy into a false sense of security."

He had already thoroughly investigated the young man in mourning. He had initially thought the man would be a master of disguise, well-versed in the tricks of "pretending to be dressed in mourning," and adept at using weakness to gain the favor of those in power. But it turned out he was just a gilded exterior masking a rotten core.

Tsk—

I thought this scoundrel was quite capable.

Who knows who assigned him this task, actually wanting him to use his beauty to seduce the lord? Ha, he's done a terrible job with that. You know, the essence of a beauty trap lies in winning someone's heart and seducing their emotions, not just having a pretty face. You also need to be gentle, attentive, and have the ability to understand people's hearts. Yuan Xie watched coldly; this guy's face wasn't particularly outstanding either, just an ordinary person.

Fan Shuyan was much more handsome than this scoundrel.

Zhang Yang: "How can we please him?"

Yuan Xie revealed his true intentions: "Tell him bad things about Shu Yan."

Fan You, enduring the throbbing pain in his forehead, said, "Yuan Youzheng!"

Zhang Yang: "But Shuyan is very good."

Yuan Xie laughed and said, "Gold is never pure, and no man is perfect. Even Shu Yan has his flaws. What does the other party want to hear? It's nothing more than that the lord thinks Shu Yan is domineering and wants to treat the lord as a puppet. If that's the case, then the lord should say so."

Zhang Yang: "...This is baseless."

Yuan Xie laughed and said, "Why not pretend it does?"

Zhang Yang: "..."

Fan You: "..."

If one were to carefully nitpick Fan You, it wouldn't be impossible to find fault with him.

After all, what subordinate would openly boast in front of their lord every day? Fan You knew that Zhang Yang could sense his stance, yet he deliberately controlled his emotions, making the name above his head switch between green and yellow, which was no different from a provocation.

With Fan You's tacit approval, Zhang Yang had a whole host of complaints.

So, after the young man in mourning once again subtly probed her, Zhang Yang finally gave a clear response. She did indeed have a lot of opinions about Fan You, including but not limited to his disdain for her knowledge (encouraging her to study), his contempt for her background (allowing her to falsely claim the Zhang family lineage of Jiukan), and his monopolization of power. This also explains why Zhang Yang was always wandering around. It wasn't that she didn't want to handle government affairs, but that all government affairs were handed over to Fan You. She was actually just a puppet being manipulated.

The young man in mourning clothes was overjoyed.

He even thought that his instigation had worked.

However, he spoke favorably of Fan You, saying, "Your Excellency is mistaken. Chief Clerk Fan is acting out of good intentions. You are new to the area, and the affairs of the prefecture are complex and multifaceted. He took on these arduous tasks to ease your burdens and allow you time to familiarize yourself with the situation in Weiyin County. As for encouraging education, it's not that he looks down on your learning, but rather... many of the officials in the prefecture are arrogant and take advantage of their seniority. Your Excellency is young, and you might easily fall into their trap... As for your background, although the Zhang family of Jiukan is declining, with a prodigy like Your Excellency, how can the Zhang family not rise again?"

Zhang Yang listened to his incessant rambling without responding.

The young man in mourning continued, "I haven't spoken much with the chief clerk, but I know he's introverted and only knows how to bury himself in his work without knowing how to express his feelings, which has caused the prefect to have a rift with him..."

After saying this, the young man in mourning clothes let out a soft sigh.

On the surface, he seemed genuinely sorry that Fan You had been misunderstood by Zhang Yang, but a fleeting, almost imperceptible smugness flashed across his eyes.

Zhang Yang silently recalled for a moment.

I wonder what connection Fan You has with the phrase "introverted nature".

She lowered her voice, leaving no room for argument: "You don't need to speak well of him. I know him better than anyone. You haven't known him long enough; don't be fooled by his facade."

The young man in mourning clothes hesitated to speak.

Zhang Yang waved his hand, indicating that the topic could be put to rest.

The young man in mourning had no choice but to swallow his words.

As night fell, the officials of the prefectural government finished their duties, and the young man in mourning dragged his weary legs back to his quarters. Before he could even light a fire in the pitch-black room, a gust of cold wind swept up his neck. His expression hardened, but his movements didn't falter; he lit a candle.

The firelight flickered in the eerie wind, vaguely outlining a fleeting black shadow. The young man in mourning clothes suddenly turned his head, only to find a distorted, ghostly face inches away, nearly causing his heart to stop. Only after he could clearly see the shadow's features did his wildly beating heart gradually return to normal.

He asked in a low, sharp voice, "What brings you here?"

After speaking, he looked around, as if afraid someone would approach.

"Are you crazy? This place is only a wall away from the prefectural government. If Zhang the Thief sends someone to watch me, we'll both be exposed." The young man in mourning grabbed the shadowy figure's arm tightly, hoping the other would understand the current situation. "If the plan is exposed because of this, can you bear the responsibility?"

The shadowy figure chuckled: "What's there to be afraid of? I checked when I came in. Zhang doesn't trust you like the back of his hand; he didn't send anyone to watch you at all. On the contrary, you've been living a carefree life these past few days. Don't let Zhang corrupt your mind and make you forget your mission."

The young man in mourning clothes became enraged.

"Who's living a carefree life? Who's forgotten their duty? Zhang Yang is my sworn enemy, responsible for the destruction of my family. Just seeing her face makes me want to tear her flesh and drink her blood! How could I possibly be seduced by her mediocre appearance?" the young man in mourning clothes said through gritted teeth. His mourning attire wasn't for show; there was genuine mourning in his family. The culprit behind all this misfortune was Zhang Yang; how could he forget his family's vengeance?

The shadowy figure merely chuckled in response.

The young man in mourning clothes blushed, wanting to refute but hesitant because of something else.

He had no choice but to abruptly change the subject: "When exactly are you going to make your move? Judging by the time, Zhang's troops are almost back. If we don't act now while her forces are weak and Wei Yin is undefended, are we going to wait until she's fully armed?"

"Better safe than sorry; one must always be extremely cautious."

Things are progressing too smoothly, which is also worrying.

You always need to have multiple backup plans to feel at ease.

"I'm here to inform you that it's time to take action."

Their troops have all entered the city and blended into the civilian population. With just a command, they can launch a mutiny at any time and seize control of the city's key roads. The county officials and their families are also being targeted; by controlling their weaknesses, these wavering lackeys can be turned against them. In fact, if they had acted even earlier, they could have apprehended them all en route.

Unfortunately—

Too late.

It's unclear what kind of spell Zhang the traitor cast on the officials of the old prefecture, but the day after they arrived in Weiyin County, he wrote a letter ordering their families to move over, without even giving them a buffer period. Otherwise, these people would be the perfect hostages in our hands.

However, it's not too late now.

They have already taken control of a key hostage.

We should also thank Zhang for her policy of taking in everyone, accepting all refugees and laborers seeking a living. The current chaotic state of Weiyin County actually makes it easier for them to operate covertly.

"This is...you asked me to poison her?"

The shadowy figure scoffed, "Poisoning is the worst possible solution. She's a skilled fighter; any contaminated food would likely be detected as soon as it enters her mouth. This is a powder made from a special type of mushroom; it has an extremely delicious and sweet taste, and it can cause hallucinations if ingested."

"Does common mushroom have an effect on her?"

"Hehe, it's certainly unusual."

This is made from mushrooms that have transformed into star plants; even a body burdened with the wrath of the stars and inhabited by demons cannot withstand it. The young man in mourning clothes took the packet of mushroom powder and nodded, saying, "Zhang the scoundrel is arrogant and domineering, showing no wariness towards lowly children..."

It was very simple to poison Zhang Yang.

Unlike ordinary county magistrates who require their meals to be tasted for poison, she might refuse food offered by adult commoners, but she would almost always accept food from commoner children. The shadowy figure said, "This packet is for dealing with that star beast. There's something else prepared for her."

Young people who are in mourning are not stupid.

Hearing this, he guessed that these people didn't completely trust him either.

The shadowy figure saw through his thoughts and chuckled sinisterly, "Don't overthink it. We're just trying to be absolutely sure."

The young man in mourning asked one last question.

"You just killed her like that?"

"What, you don't want her to die?"

"She harmed my whole family and stole my family's wealth. How could I not want her to die? I just don't want her to die too quickly! I wish I could drag her to the ancestral grave and torture her to death, to comfort our ancestors!" Faced with the young man in mourning clothes' request, the shadowy figure did not agree immediately, but only said that he would go and ask.

The young man in mourning clothes bowed and expressed his gratitude.

The shadows dispersed, and the young man in mourning clothes regained his composure.

He gripped the packet of mushroom powder tightly in his hand, as if trying to draw strength from it to reassure himself. However, he never expected that the other preparations mentioned by the shadowy figure were actually related to Du Guan.

Are they all one of us?

The young man in mourning clothes remained unfazed, as he overheard a conversation between two people.

Zhang Yang: "The private school was built so quickly?"

"Yes, my husband would like to invite the Prefect to the opening ceremony."

"Of course I'll go."

The education of children is related to the future of both the family and the community.

??(?_?)

People really shouldn't be too happy. Yesterday I was talking about getting rich, and today I've physically lost money. I don't even know how much I can get reimbursed. Luckily, I wrote the article yesterday and didn't leave it unfinished.