Poverty Alleviation in Qin: A Sky-High Review of "I Am the Female Prime Minister of All Time&qu

"Liu Tingzhang, drink this cup to the brim."

Liu Ji was both surprised and delighted, and quickly reached out to take the wine, saying, "Lord Lü, you are too kind. How could I trouble you to pour the wine yourself? I can do it myself!"

"Oh, you are a distinguished guest, no need for such formalities." Lu Gong smiled warmly and filled the wine bowl.

Inside the main hall, toasts were exchanged, laughter filled the air, and a lively atmosphere prevailed.

Inside the inner hall, Lü Zhi was led by a maid to behind a wooden screen.

She didn't want to come.

Just now, a servant brought a message from my father, saying that there is a distinguished person in the hall who has summoned her to come and see him.

Empress Lü Zhi vaguely guessed her father's thoughts, and despite her reluctance, she still moved here.

The wooden screen is carved with simple patterns, and although the gaps are narrow, they are enough to allow a clear view of the scene inside the hall.

The girl stood sideways, her gaze sweeping through the gap over Xiao He, Cao Can, and the others, finally settling on Liu Ji, who was holding a wine bowl.

This person looked to be in his early thirties, while I was only seventeen.

He sat improperly, acted frivolously, put his arm around the guests next to him, and didn't care that wine was spilled on his clothes. He just wiped it off and continued drinking.

The more Lü Zhi looked, the more her brows furrowed, and a sense of annoyance arose in her heart.

She knew that her father was skilled at physiognomy and had used this ability to judge people and make friends over the years. He often judged people's social status and worth based on their appearance, but she never believed in this kind of talk.

She only believed what she saw with her own eyes.

Before him was merely a petty, drunken, and unruly village head, whose age difference was enormous. How could he possibly be associated with the word "noble person"?

Just then, Liu Ji choked on the strong liquor, clutching his chest and coughing repeatedly, his face turning bright red.

Xiao He, who was standing to the side, quietly moved to the side, feeling that Lü Gong's attitude towards Liu Ji was unusually warm.

On second thought, Liu Ji was always smooth and could get along with people wherever he went, so it wasn't surprising. He stopped worrying about it.

Just as Lü Zhi was about to leave, a servant announced loudly from outside the door: "Magistrate Song of Pei County has arrived!"

The noisy atmosphere in the room came to an abrupt halt.

Xiao He abruptly stopped the wine bowl he was holding in mid-air, his face full of astonishment.

Didn't the adults say they weren't coming?

Lu Gong reacted even more swiftly, immediately brushing aside the table in front of him and quickly rising to greet him.

I had thought the other party wouldn't grant me the honor, and I was feeling a bit disappointed, but I never expected such a turn of events.

Before they could even leave the house, the visitor had already stepped into the hall.

For some inexplicable reason, Lü Zhi's steps stopped as if by magic.

She couldn't explain what she was thinking. She had already planned to turn around and go back to her room, but her feet seemed to be nailed to the spot, unable to move an inch.

She turned slightly to the side, casting her gaze once more upon the gap in the wooden screen, a hint of curiosity rising in her heart.

Yesterday, the carriage passed by the canal east of the city, and I peeked through the curtain.

Later, Lü Zhi learned that it was Magistrate Song of Pei County.

An eccentric man who was completely unlike any ordinary official.

Song Ye, who entered the hall at this moment, was dressed in a dark gray robe with a simple leather belt around his waist. He was dressed in a plain and unadorned manner.

The young man was slender, thinner than most of the men present, but his back was ramrod straight, exuding an air of composure.

His face was handsome and relaxed, his eyebrows and eyes were clean and open, like a vast autumn sky, clear and boundless.

Those eyes were calm and gentle, neither sharp nor aloof, yet they drew people to look at them more than once.

Lü Zhi's gaze remained fixed on Song Ye, unable to look away for a long time.

In terms of appearance, this young man could not be described as exceptionally handsome; compared to the scions of prominent families he associated with, he was even rather plain-looking.

Yet this unique quality is like a light ink wash landscape painting, without any bright colors, each stroke restrained, with a profound artistic conception, becoming more and more attractive the more you look at it.

A phrase of praise inexplicably surfaced in her mind, startling Lü Zhi. She quickly suppressed her chaotic thoughts.

How could I have had such a thought?

Song Ye glanced around at everyone in the hall, then bowed to Lord Lü who was walking quickly forward: "Lord Lü, congratulations on your housewarming! It has been a long time since I had the chance to come. I hope you will forgive me."

"Not at all, not at all!" Lu Gong smiled broadly, eagerly stepping forward to lead the way. "It is truly an honor for my humble abode that Lord Song has taken the time to come! Men, quickly prepare more seats and new wine!"

Taking the opportunity, Xiao He leaned closer and asked in a low voice, "My lord, didn't you say you weren't coming?"

Song replied without changing his expression, "I just happened to be passing by and stopped by. Besides, they specially sent me an invitation, it would be impolite not to come."

Xiao He: "???"

Liu Ji, who was having a lively conversation with Cao Can, immediately sat up straight when he saw Song Ye appear. The memories of being forced to work under Song Ye's control were still vivid in his mind, and it had become a conditioned reflex; he dared not be disrespectful in the slightest.

After Song also took his seat, Lu Gong was finally able to calmly observe the young county magistrate.

I was busy greeting guests just now and only vaguely noticed that the other party was young, had clear features, and behaved with propriety. I did not observe them closely.

Now, taking advantage of the moment when raising a glass, his gaze subtly swept over Song Ye's face, and his heart suddenly trembled.

Lu Gong spent half his life traveling around, judging people by their appearance, and met all sorts of powerful and famous figures.

Some people have striking features and an imposing presence, while others have refined bone structure and an extraordinary demeanor. But this is the first time he has ever encountered someone with the appearance and bearing of Magistrate Song.

His brow bone is gentle yet not weak, his nose bridge is straight yet not sharp, his cheekbones are understated yet not ostentatious, and his jaw is square yet not fierce.

Individually, each of his facial features appears ordinary, but when put together, they exude a natural and composed air.

This is not an aggressive display of nobility, but rather like a beautiful jade buried deep in the soil, with a simple and unadorned exterior and a restrained inner brilliance. No one will know its true value unless they personally cut it open and harvest it.

The more Lü Gong looked, the more alarmed he became.

This person's appearance cannot be simply described as "incredibly noble".

Judging from his aura, he should be a person whose name will be remembered for generations and whose virtue will benefit all. However, deep within his brows, there is a faint, heavy aura surrounding him that seems to suppress something... Dragon aura?!

The moment the thought crossed his mind, Lu Gong broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly lowered his eyes, picked up his wine bowl, tilted his head back, and drank a mouthful of strong liquor to suppress his turbulent emotions.

How could this be?

How could a county magistrate, residing in a corner of Pei County, possess such an imperial aura?

Lu Gong quietly raised his eyes to look again, confirming that what he saw was exactly the same, and his heart began to pound.

This small county of Pei is truly a place where hidden talents reside.

He subconsciously turned his head to look at Liu Ji beside him, then turned his gaze back to Song Ye, comparing and weighing the two repeatedly.

Liu Ji has a majestic appearance and a wild and untamed spirit; he is destined to be ennobled and appointed prime minister in the future.

The future is immeasurable, and the road ahead is full of sword fights and conquests.

But Song Ye's vision was even better.

One man's ambition was to conquer the world, while the other's heart was set on bringing peace and stability to the world.

After weighing the options in his mind, Lu Gong's gaze finally settled on Song Ye, and a bold idea came to mind: it would be a match made in heaven to marry Zhi'er to this Magistrate Song.

Magistrate Song was young, almost the same age as Zhi'er, and not only was he handsome and composed, but his administrative abilities were also evident to all.

Although he is currently only a county magistrate, with his appearance and demeanor, he will never remain subordinate to anyone for long.

Furthermore, this man is down-to-earth, steady, and has a peaceful temperament. He is by no means a frivolous or impetuous person. If his daughter were to live with him, she would certainly have a worry-free life.

The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Lu Gong began to plan: This Magistrate Song came to Pei alone and had no clan roots in the area. Although the Lu family had moved there to avoid trouble, they were wealthy. If the two families were to marry, they could rely on each other.

The generous dowry of land and property will also provide Song with additional support.

I wonder if this Magistrate Song is married...

Lu Gongzheng was lost in thought when a burst of laughter suddenly came from beside him.

Liu Ji moved over at some point, holding a wine bowl, and teased with a wink, "Lord Lü, you're staring intently at Lord Song. Could it be that you've taken a fancy to our county magistrate?"

Upon hearing this, the guests burst into laughter.

"!"

Behind the screen, Lü Zhi's forehead twitched almost imperceptibly.

This Liu Ji is truly unrestrained in his speech, full of vulgarity, and has no manners whatsoever!

The girl was both angry and annoyed, but her cheeks inexplicably felt hot, and she couldn't explain where this feeling of shame came from.