Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 522 - 520

Chapter 522: Chapter 520

The next day, Shangguan Xuanyi was at work when Xiao Fuzi knocked and entered.

"Have you found out?" Shangguan Xuanyi asked without lifting his head.

"Master, it’s all clarified," Xiao Fuzi replied.

Only after Shangguan Xuanyi had signed off on the last few documents did he raise his head to look at him.

"Tell me," he ordered.

"The person in charge of cleaning and inspecting the seventh floor of the Lingcang Tower that day was a man named Deng Wei. He is publicly a relative of the County Magistrate of Cangsheng County, but in fact, he has a covertly close relationship with the County Magistrate..."

The truth of the incident was so: The County Magistrate and the County Official of Cangsheng County did not agree politically. The County Official, possessing some influence, was long tired of the County Magistrate’s rigid and conservative style.

Being himself incorruptible, and keeping those beneath him from being corrupt as well, he frustrated the ambition-fueled County Official.

This occasion of the Cangjie Temple Fair, the County Official, aware that a nobleman would attend, used his influence to his advantage.

So when a subordinate reported that the guardrail of the seventh floor of the Lingcang Tower had traces of termite damage, he deliberately concealed the matter. He claimed that nobody has been to the seventh floor for years and that nobody would likely visit this year either. The seventh floor was open to nobles, and replacing the guardrail required prime wood and carving, something that would not be completed in time before the Grain Rain festival. He ordered someone to put on a layer of fresh paint first, planning to replace the guardrail after the temple fair.

The County Official aimed to have the County Magistrate removed from his position, so that he could take his place.

Indeed an accident occurred, during which the County Official was both overjoyed and worried.

He had planned to personally rescue a noble’s life, having arranged for strong men to wait under the tower; this would present him an opportunity to become a savior to royal nobility.

As he had expected, an accident did occur, but unexpectedly, he did not become the savior of the noble.

Given the magnitude of the accident, which involved the lives of a county magistrate and a prince, the County Official who did not become the savior had sleepless nights as well. Deng Wei attempted to escape after the incident, but was captured by the County Magistrate’s men. Terrified, he confessed everything, only hoping for a lighter sentence and for his wife and children to be spared.

"So how did the County Magistrate of Cangsheng County handle this? And what background does this County Official have?"

"Master, the County Magistrate of Cangsheng County is waiting for your decision. The County Official’s cousin is the housekeeper in the Second Prince’s Mansion."

The background of a lowly servant brings such prestige to a County Official! Shangguan Xuanyi sneered: "The Second Prince certainly needs to clean house!"

Xiao Fuzi didn’t reply to that comment.

Upon consideration, Shangguan Xuanyi added: "Dismiss the County Official, exile him to the frontier, denying his descendants the right to hold office for three generations! Dismiss Deng Wei. Considering that he was only following orders and confessed voluntarily, he should serve as a laborer for five years to atone for his crime!"

Currently all the counties were building water conservancies and roads, times that required a large amount of labor.

The policy newly studied by the Ministry of Justice and Dali Temple this year meant that many criminals after spring didn’t have to be locked up, wasting the national treasury’s rations. Instead they would be exiled to one place to be overseen and serve labor. The most strenuous and hardest work was mandated to them! The punishment could be from one to ten years depending on the severity of the crime!

This policy was only being tried out, it was unclear whether it would be effective.

...

On Shangguan Wanru’s birthday, Shangguan Xuanyi and the Seventh Prince arrived early at the Marquis Shengping Mansion to collect their people. Today, Yun’er and Xi’er, as well as brothers Jingrui and Jinghao would also go to Prince An’s Mansion.

By the time they arrived, many people had already gathered.

Because it was a birthday of a princess, the people who came were primarily young ladies and boys.

They gathered on both sides of the lake. In the middle of the lake was a meandering promenade with multi-colored water lilies on one side and many brocades on the other.

Princess Wanru was a person who particularly liked to show off her refinement, and the crown prince was one who particularly liked to make friends through literary pursuits.

Spring flowers bloomed, and the entire back garden of the Wang Mansion was decorated with poetry and painting, even a sunshade of light gauze was erected.

One had to say, they were truly wealthy and ostentatious!

Once Xiao’er appeared, Shangguan Wanru immediately ran over and hugged her tightly.

Xiao’er looked up at the blue sky and white clouds, silently questioning heaven in her heart. Why wasn’t she born a man? If so, she would be extremely pleased to embrace such a soft and fragrant woman. But now she felt earnestly that she had no fortune to enjoy this!

"What gift have you brought me, Rui’an County Princess?" Princess Wanru was one of the few people in the world who could be this direct.

Xiao’er took a scroll from Yang Liu and handed it to Shangguan Wanru with both hands, "I didn’t have enough time to put it a frame. I hope you won’t mind, Princess."

"I won’t mind, I won’t mind. If the gift you bring displeases me, you can play a piece for me on the piano. I heard you’re very good at it!" Shangguan Wanru happily took the scroll from Xiao’er.

Xiao’er thought: Can a princess be so impolite? Why doesn’t the emperor appoint me as a princess? Appointing me as a county princess is too stingy!

"Whose painting is this? Let’s guess, shall we? I believe that a gift from County Princess Rui’an will definitely surprise me!" Shangguan Wanru did not hurry to open it, believing that shared joy is a double joy, she laughed and suggested.

"I remember on the Empress Dowager’s last birthday, the Rui’an County Princess sent a portrait of Guanyin by Master Qi. That was a work of Master Shi’s peak period, priceless, and long since unknown who had collected it. I did not expect the Rui’an County Princess to find it. This time, it wouldn’t also be a work of Master Shi, would it?"

"Even if it is not Master Shi, it will not be from a nobody. Could it be a painting by Master Qi?"

"When the Rui’an County Princess handed it over, it was surely a masterpiece. Otherwise, just sending any painting to a princess would be too insincere."

Why does it have to be by a master? Isn’t a painting by oneself even more sincere?

"This is a painting I did myself, not a work of any famous artist."

Everyone present: Are you bold enough to present your own painting?

"Is it really okay for her to so shamelessly present her own painting as a congratulatory gift? Is it because she can’t bear to spend even one coin? It’s a pity that Wanru is so considerate of her!" Princess Ling’er sarcastically stated.

"My big sister’s painting is not at all inferior to those of the greats!" Xi’er defended her sister as soon as she heard Princess Ling’er’s comment.

"Indeed, one family doesn’t come through one door, all have thick skins!" Princess Ling’er looked at Xi’er with disdain.

"While I may have thick skin, at least I am cultured, unlike some people whose mouths stink and still open to speak, suffocating everyone they meet with their bad breath!" As Xiao’er spoke, she deliberately retreated a few steps, as if Princess Ling’er’s bad breath had choked her.

Yun’er also stepped back, while Xi’er exaggeratedly covered her nose with a handkerchief.

The rest of the court ladies, taking their cue from Xiao’er, unknowingly moved further away from Princess Ling’er.

Shangguan Wanru’s reaction was even more dramatic, she jumped behind Xiao’er: "How can you be so disgusting?"

Princess Ling’er, seeing everyone avoiding her like a snake, was almost moved to tears, "You are the one who has bad breath! You dare to slander me like this."