Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 1015: The Top of the County Returns Home
Aside from that, everyone increasingly believed that Emperor Chu was incompetent. If such a tyrant stayed in power, nobody could expect to enjoy good days. ππ³π¦ππ€ππ£π―β΄π·π¦π.πππ
They really wanted to replace the Emperor.
Some even felt that the past chaos in the Northwest was heavenβs warning of dissatisfaction against Emperor Chu, and rumors began spreading, unfavorable to the Emperor.
However, the Emperor believed he was the mandate of heaven, thinking there was nothing wrong with killing off the Eldest Imperial Princeβs family.
He was the Emperor; not only was the Eldest Prince his son, but also his subject. A subject trying to seize his throneβshould he not do something, could he still be deemed an Emperor?
With the other princes gradually growing, if each of them followed the Eldest Princeβs example, how could he lead a peaceful life? Only by making a striking example, warning the other princes against courting death, could he live without worry.
The news shocked Magistrate Gu profoundly, his hands shaking with fear.
It seemed his decision not to serve as a Capital Official but rather to transfer to Jiangnan as a Magistrate was correct.
The Capital was a den of dragons and tigers, not suitable for an ordinary person like him.
Looking at the Da Li Temple Prison Guards in front of him, he suddenly understood why Junior Minister Ming was eager to execute Lord Lai and the Old Gu Family.
All of this was for Gu Jinβan.
Junior Minister Ming was recruiting talent, recognizing Gu Jinβanβs talents and wanting to include him in the Ming Family, but he understood the Emperorβs ruthlessness well, so he approved the cases of Lai Zhi and Granny Gu early, sending his trusted guards who executed Lai Zhi and Granny Guβs family without delay.
If they didnβt quickly execute Lai Zhi and the Old Gu Family, once the Eldest Princeβs situation was exposed, with the Emperorβs suspicion and ruthlessness, he would certainly annihilate both the Lai and Gu families completely!
However, this wasnβt what shocked Magistrate Gu most; he was most shocked that Junior Minister Ming had foreseen the Eldest Princeβs downfall to the extent of sending guards in advance for execution.
Magistrate Gu was overthinking it; things werenβt as sinister as he imagined. Junior Minister Ming, in the Capital with many informers, could easily learn some matters about the Eldest Prince and likewise, find it easy to save someone in advance.
"Is Magistrate Gu planning to transfer to Jiangnan? Have you chosen a good place?" the guard suddenly asked.
Magistrate Gu: "No, as long as I can transfer to Jiangnan, I will be satisfied."
Previously, this guard hinted that Junior Minister Ming would assist him in transferring to Jiangnan, and now it seemed he could even choose the placement?
Impressive, truly impressive, but he wasnβt choosy, going to Jiangnan sufficed.
The guard said, "Alright, I understand."
The guard didnβt explicitly say he would assist Magistrate Gu, but listening to his tone, the guardβs words clearly conveyed Junior Minister Mingβs intention to help Magistrate Gu.
Ming Shaoqing himself helping arrange an official position; Magistrate Gu was overjoyed, personally handing over a red envelope, smiling: "Itβs been a hard journey, safe travels."
The guard was not polite with Magistrate Gu, accepted the red envelope, then mounted his horse, departing quickly toward the Capital.
In fact, the guard should have left soon after executing Granny Gu and others, but he had another task of observing Gu Jinβan, so he waited until Gu Jinβanβs family left before leaving.
And Gu Jinβan did not disappoint his master; indeed he was extremely astute, as if born with the skills of strategy, achieving such success without the guidance of a Great Scholar.
After sending off the guard, Magistrate Gu began to clean up his relationships with other officials; if they were too close to the Eldest Princeβs faction, he needed to sever those ties.
...
The Prefecture was some distance from Tianfu County, and Gu Jinli and the others returned to Tianfu County on the morning of the third day.
"Hey, Dad, Dad, that looks like a mule cart from the Luo Family Escort Agency!" He Dacang stood on the ox cart, spotting a team of mule carts heading towards the county government, he excitedly shouted: "Looks like Good Brother An and the others are back."
Upon hearing this, Village Chief He couldnβt contain himself, hitting He Dacangβs leg with his cane angrily: "Quickly pull me up there to take a look."
Whatβs the use of shouting? Didnβt he know how long heβd been waiting today? Wasting his time here.
"Alright, alright, Dad, take it easy, Iβll pull you up right now." He Dacang hurriedly helped Village Chief He onto the ox cart, worried he might not stand steadily due to age, he supported him while pointing out direction: "There, right there, on Xuβs Shop street, do you see it, Dad?"
In front, on Xuβs Shop street, a team of mule carts was coming this way, and although it was less than ten carts, in the county city it counted as quite the procession.
"Yeah, I see it, I see it, thatβs really a mule cart of the Luo Family Escort Agency. Heard itβs the Luo boy picking people up, no doubt about that." Village Chief He was extremely excited, having waited so long finally paid off.
People from Lianghe Village also arrived, and upon hearing this, were thrilled, asking: "Chief He, our top scorer of the county really came back?"
Village Chief He became proud, unwilling to respond to Lianghe Village folk, as to him what did it mean by our top scorer of the county? Clearly, he was Da Feng Villageβs top scorer of the county, what did it have to do with Lianghe Village?
However, the two villages were close after all, and he was the village chief of the top scorer, so externally he could not be rude, had to maintain demeanor, thus smiled faintly: "Yes, our Da Feng Villageβs Master top scorer returned."
His words were sharp, leaving folks from Lianghe Village quite stung.
Village Chief He was pleased, urgently telling He Dacang to beat the gong: "Quick, beat the gong and announce to everyone, our Da Feng Villageβs top scorer has returned home!"
"Aye." He Dacang immediately picked up the prepared copper gong, banging loudly: "Da Feng Villageβs top scorer Gu Jinβan has returned home! Da Feng Villageβs top scorer Gu Jinβan has returned home!"
His voice almost broke from shouting, drawing all the people on the street to come see the spectacle.
He Jinseng and He Yinseng were inside the county government speaking with clerks when they heard the shouting, faces immediately flushed, they excused themselves to the clerks and rushed out, saying to their father: "Dad, stop beating it, here is the county government gate, with your banging, everyone will come to watch."
He Yinseng also said: "Grandpa, youβre creating such a commotion, maybe it isnβt appropriate."
Village Chief He was furious: "Not appropriate? Whatβs not appropriate? Thatβs exactly what we want, for everyone to come watch the spectacle. Itβs the top scorer, Tianfu County has never had a top scorer before, itβs a rare thing, one that came from our village, should we not celebrate it loudly?"
If we donβt make a ruckus, what if another village claims him?
He then said to He Jinseng: "Why are you still standing there? Go and welcome Good Brother An at once! You are from the same village, supposed to support each other in the future, what are you being shy about? Quickly, go welcome the top scorer!"
Village Chief He was proud that his grandson passed the student exam, but his grandsonβs rank was far lower compared to Gu Jinβan.
His grandson barely scraped by, while Gu Jinβan surpassed the entire Prefectureβs students, ranking at the top of the county, so naturally, one who performed poorly must go welcome the one who excelled.
