The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!-Chapter 228: Fine Tea

Jiang Ning carried himself with grace, broad shoulders and a narrow waist, standing tall like jade. Having long served as a guard by Prince Cheng’s Heir’s side, he held an unusual status, indeed exuding an extraordinary presence.

At this moment, upon seeing Shang Jingwang, Jiang Ning stepped back, clasped his hands in salute, and said, "Lord Shang, I am merely a guard. My young master is at Baoyue Restaurant, preparing to dine!"

Upon hearing this, Shang Jingwang hurriedly said, "Young Master Jing at Baoyue Restaurant? With the young master gracing Huainan Prefecture, it ought to be me hosting. Since Young Master Jing chose Baoyue Building, then I’ll host at Baoyue Building! Please, lead the way."

When coming to Huainan Prefecture, Huangfu Jingchen was already aware of this Shang Jingwang, who had served as the Prefecture of Huainan for eight years. In Nanxia, officials are reassigned or promoted every three years, or even demoted if their evaluations fall short.

Shang Jingwang, now forty-five, passed the imperial examinations at twenty-one, ranking fifth in the second class, and entered the Wenbo Academy as a scholar. He had a promising start but was an outspoken official, priding himself on his scholarly integrity, yet unfamiliar with the ways of the officialdom. Arrogantly, he offended many, and eventually, someone set a trap for him, pushing him out of the Capital City to the poor and cold region of northwest Qinzhou as a County Magistrate. There he remained for fifteen years until finally being promoted to Prefecture, nearly grinding down his scholarly pride.

Later, he was finally transferred to Jiazhou. Huainan Prefecture in Jiazhou Northern County was the poorest region, with mountains breeding unruly people and bandits.

Two of the preceding prefects were killed within a decade, and one fled.

Shang Jingwang, having served in Qinzhou for many years, had to move, so he was deliberately placed here by those with ulterior motives.

However, Shang Jingwang was indeed capable; he was a competent official. Having managed Qinzhou well for many years, upon arrival here, his main task was eliminating bandits. Shang Jingwang didn’t even stay at the government office, instead, he chose a temporary location in the area frequented by mountain bandits, declaring that until the bandits were eradicated, he would make the temporary location his home.

Though the bandits were not completely eradicated, the three-year term ended.

Yet, no one was willing to come to Huainan Prefecture, so ultimately, Shang Jingwang continued his appointment.

He believed that if people had food to eat and clothes to wear, no one would willingly bear the infamy of being a bandit. It was all an act of desperation.

From the start of his appointment, he dedicated himself to both eradicating bandits and developing local agriculture, encouraging villagers to engage in trade, providing commercial routes, supporting them, and improving the impoverished situation.

Many bandits were originally from the villagers below the mountains, so he urged the villagers to appeal emotionally and sensibly to their family, persuading them to return home, farm peacefully, and obey the law, offering amnesty for past banditry. A system for reporting was also set up, heavily rewarding those providing information on the bandits.

As a result, the bandits gradually lost their foothold, returning home to farm, with food to eat, and their past not being pursued naturally stirred emotions.

With such comprehensive measures, it took Shang Jingwang six years to finally resolve the bandit problem.

Of course, over those years, he faced danger, but he expertly resolved each one, proving his competence as an official.

The bandit issue resolved, Shang Jingwang still did not get promoted. Firstly, he had no connections in the Capital, and though he accomplished much, no one reported his achievements, so without reaching high ears, how could promotion be possible?

Huainan Prefecture’s ill reputation spread far early on; even though the bandit problem is resolved, others still speak of it with fear, allowing him to continue in office, with this term nearing its end.

Today’s Shang Jingwang is no longer the principled and lofty newcomer, looking down on others with scholarly arrogance; nor is he the clueless newcomer to Qinzhou, blindly fumbling about, incompetent in practice.

Having lived over half his life, he has let go, grown wiser, and over the years, his sharpness has been polished smooth by his official experiences.

Driven out of the Capital back then, heading to Qinzhou as a County Magistrate was disgraceful. Meanwhile, his contemporaries, the top and second scholar graduates, not to mention, even those ranked lower in the second or third classes, now have smoother official paths than him.

His greatest wish is to return to the Capital and serve as a Capital Official.

But now his hopes seemed dim.

Uncertain feelings filled Shang Jingwang.

At that moment, a calling card arrived suddenly; the current Emperor’s nephew, the Second Young Master of Prince Kang Mansion, arrived in the area on a leisurely tour.

The late Old Prince Kang was the Emperor’s third brother, and with his early passing, his son inherited the title early, living as a carefree prince in the Capital City.

Indeed, the son of a Prince, the Holy Emperor’s grandnephew, a member of the Imperial Family, someone who could meet the Emperor.

Shang Jingwang was filled with joy, sensing vaguely this might be a turning point in his life.

In truth, this was somewhat of a last-ditch effort. Without any roots or bases in the Capital early on, offending many, he had no Silver to hand out, and no chance of establishing connections; but now a connection directly arrived in his Huainan Prefecture, wasn’t this Heaven sending him a benefactor?

He hurried to Baoyue Building and enthusiastically greeted, in Huangfu Jingchen’s private room, "Young Master Jing, I did not know Young Master Jing was visiting Huainan Prefecture, truly failing to welcome you!"

Huangfu Jingchen poured a cup of tea, smiled faintly, "I’m merely strolling around, going where my interests lead me. Lord Shang, you have governed Huainan well; the streets are bustling, and the people are living peacefully. It’s a pleasant place; I like it here!" Saying so, he pushed the cup of tea toward Shang Jingwang, gesturing for him to taste it.

He smiled with an air of pride, exuding nobility, every move displaying aristocratic elegance, yet with a hint of pampered indulgence.

After spending two months in the Capital, Huangfu Jingchen had interacted with his cousin Huangfu Jingxuan from Uncle Kang’s family. Now mirroring his behavior wasn’t hard, acting slightly indulgent, more playful.

"Thank you for your praise, Young Master!" Shang Jingwang was delighted, cautiously extending both hands to lift the teacup, bringing it to his lips, and taking a sip.

With that sip, he paused.

What kind of tea is this, so difficult to drink!

Huangfu Jingchen gently shook his folding fan, smiling, "How’s the tea?"

Shang Jingwang didn’t twitch a brow, didn’t pause, immediately said, "Good tea, good tea, fragrant to smell, even more fragrant to drink, Young Master brewed it personally, truly delicious!"

Huangfu Jingchen laughed.

These many years of seemingly demoted official life truly smoothed his edges, allowing him even to speak such insincere words.

He folded and lightly tapped his fan in his palm, teasingly smiled, "It seems Lord Shang lives quite a frugal life if even this kind of tea is sweet to you. Your days here, I imagine, leave you wanting for better food and clothing. When you return to the Capital to serve as an official, I’ll send you some tea, so you can taste real good tea!"

Shang Jingwang’s old face flushed, then he brightened, "Returning to the Capital?"