22. "The Hypocrite"

"My lady, my lady, look, look! There are so many people outside. The new magistrate is holding court right on the street!"

"My lady, that young Miss Xie is there too."

"My lady, it seems the new magistrate is putting the third young master of the Liu family on trial. How wonderful, I can't wait to see him get a taste of the rod..."

"Enough, stop peering," a cold, clear voice finally replied, her tone indifferent. "Be careful you don't fall off the wall and get a taste of the rod yourself."

"But my lady, the new magistrate has already had the Liu family's third young master whipped. Wow, that young Miss Xie is so fierce!"

"Keep your voice down."

"Oh... but my lady, this new magistrate is actually quite handsome, isn't he? Last time, I didn't see him clearly because I was too far away when he fell into the water. He truly lives up to his reputation as the top scholar of the Apricot Garden Banquet."

"He is nothing more than a pretty vase for the literati."

"But a vase is pleasing to the eye, it’s nice to have it displayed there..."

"A vase is used by the literati to flaunt their status, by emperors to polish their reputations, by historians to embellish the annals, and by the common folk to console themselves. And now, even a little maid like you uses one to please your eyes. I suppose that is 'nice,' but its only flaw is that it shatters at the slightest impact; it is of no use for truly important matters."

"Hmm, I don't understand... but you read so many books, my lady. I'll take that as a compliment."

"I can't be bothered to scold you."

"Hey, my lady, this magistrate said he came to Longcheng to do only one thing. But he’s doing disaster relief, flood control, and justice—that’s three things, isn't it? Hmm, did I count wrong?"

"You didn't count wrong."

"That's what I thought! Hehe, I counted on my fingers, how could I be wrong?"

"It's just that your brain is lacking."

"..."

"My lady, why do you seem so uninterested? Last time the new magistrate took office, didn't you take me to watch early on?"

"When you can see the quality of something at a glance, why waste time looking again?"

"Then... what quality did you see that day, my lady?"

Under the eaves, the young woman in vermilion robes lowered her eyes to her book, a cold sneer playing on her lips:

"A hypocrite."

...

"My lady, our Longcheng is an ancient county."

"It is one of the ancient counties established since the First Emperor implemented the commandery-county system."

"Three hundred years ago, the famous scholar Tao Qian served as the magistrate here for eighty-one days, which is why he is also known as Tao Longcheng."

"Why only eighty-one days?"

"Eighty-one days was giving us face. I heard he served even shorter terms in other posts, and we were his final one, which is quite commemorative."

"I really don't understand these famous scholars. Why resign when things are going perfectly well?"

"According to the county annals, it is said he refused to 'bow for five pecks of rice,' so he resigned, hung up his seal, and returned home. However, he did leave behind many poems and beautiful stories. My lady, please look at this plum blossom grove behind the residence. They say that when Tao Qian was magistrate, he released a pair of sika deer here. They lived in harmony and multiplied to this day, and now many sika deer inhabit the forests of Longcheng."

"Two deer at the start, and they produced so many?" Madam Zhen asked, sounding suspicious.

"Ahem, who knows? Perhaps they attracted some from outside. Anything is possible. My lady, just take it as a pleasant tale; no need to be so literal."

Yan Wuxu breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Escorting noblewomen around a residence was not his forte, especially when dealing with a sharp-tongued beauty like his uncle Mingtang’s wife. Only Mingtang could handle her.

Not long ago, the court session at the magistrate’s office concluded successfully. Mingtang had gone with Assistant Magistrate Diao to inspect the disaster relief efforts, leaving Yan Wuxu to pick up Madam Zhen and take her to the new residence prepared by the county officials for the magistrate’s family.

Due to the recent floods, the old county office—already in decline—had seen many of its structures collapse, and the water supply had been contaminated. For now, the office could only be used for simple meetings, and the main hall and reception area were uninhabitable.

Thus, Assistant Magistrate Diao and the others found a new residence on Luming Street near the county office. It was said that a wealthy local family had voluntarily offered it up upon hearing of the office's plight.

Although the courtyard was not large, it was elegant and quiet. Mingtang had brought very few attendants—only the strategist Xie Lingjiang—so it was not crowded.

"My lady, please look. This four-section courtyard is called the Plum Deer Garden. It is located on Luming Street, very close to the government office, making it convenient for Mingtang to work and dine every day."

Yan Wuxu thought for a moment, then smiled to keep the conversation going. "Come to think of it, the street and residence names in Longcheng are quite elegant, all related to famous people or refined events. For instance, there is the Yuanming Pavilion and Yuanming Street in the West Market, the Di Gong Street near my home, and the Di Gong Sluice that blocks the water. Perhaps after Mingtang receives a promotion, the people of Longcheng will remember him as well."

"I have heard of that Tao Yuanming, but who is this 'Di Gong'?"

Yan Wuxu looked proud. "That is the Master Di in the imperial court. Years ago, when he served as Prime Minister, he was demoted by the Empress from Luoyang to serve as our magistrate here. The great flood back then was quelled by him, and he was the one who first built the Di Gong Sluice. When he left, the people of Longcheng were so reluctant to see him go that they saw him off for ten miles and presented him with the 'Ten Thousand People Umbrella,' later even building a shrine for him."

The lady in the embroidered skirt, who was directing the servants and laborers, turned around and sighed. "How come it feels like everyone who comes to be magistrate in Longcheng meets with misfortune? My dear husband was also promoted in name but demoted in reality to come here. Sigh."

"..." Yan Wuxu was at a loss for words, so he could only say, "Set your heart at ease, my lady. Look at Master Di—didn't he eventually rise to the top and return to the imperial court? As long as one is 'favored in the Empress's heart,' that is all that matters."

"That is true."

Madam Zhen nodded, then reached out to point deep into the Plum Deer Garden. "Someone, go clean up the room in the back. That will be my husband's study from now on. It’s right next to the plum blossom grove in the back garden; it’s quiet and secluded, perfect for reading."

Yan Wuxu took a glance and casually reminded, "This plum grove seems to connect to the wealthy family's property next door, the ones who donated this house. My lady, you should keep an eye on the servants; it wouldn't be good if they accidentally wandered over there."

"Understood."

On the other side, at the gate of the Plum Deer Garden, Ouyang Rong, having finished his handover with Assistant Magistrate Diao, was finally free. He returned with Xie Lingjiang to familiarize himself with the new residence.

"Brother Lingjiang, are you sure you won't stay with us? I can ask my aunt to prepare a courtyard for you."

"No, I won't trouble your aunt," Xie Lingjiang hesitated slightly, looking around. "A family friend lives nearby, so I can stay there."

Ouyang Rong didn't mind, nodded, and bid farewell, preparing to enter.

From behind, Xie Lingjiang suddenly called out, "Brother Lianghan."

"Hmm?"

"Today's case... was handled beautifully."

"I was merely repeating the wisdom of others."

"No, you had that 'spirit.' My father once said that words are merely the exterior; the 'spirit' within a Confucian scholar is the foundation."

"Spirit?"

"I am staying behind because I also wish to seek a certain 'spirit'."

"Is it the 'spirit of vast, upright righteousness'?" Ouyang Rong tried to understand.

"Yes and no." It was the spirit of a Qi-practitioner, Xie Lingjiang felt a bit melancholy. "It is even harder than that. It was the spirit you displayed just now in public when you raised your voice. It was fleeting, but I caught a glimpse of it. Yet, I do not understand it."

Ouyang Rong realized why, when he had loudly declared he would "only handle one thing," his usually stoic and cold junior sister had suddenly turned to stare directly at him... That cleared up some of his confusion.

"Is that so?"

Ouyang Rong wanted to ask if it was his handsomeness leaking out, but he thought that unlikely; his junior sister was "stout of heart," not brainless.

"I will take that as a compliment, Brother Lingjiang. There is plenty of time; if you see it again, feel free to mention it—I am curious myself." He smiled.

Xie Lingjiang nodded.

She then asked, "I saw it on the way down the mountain today—the refugees, the bullies, the public order... the disaster in Longcheng... I noticed you and Assistant Magistrate Diao seemed to be arguing in the office earlier?"

"We just have slightly different philosophies on disaster relief."

"Does Brother Lianghan have a good strategy?"

"I wouldn't call it a 'good' strategy, just a 'middle' one—but it is still better than the current 'poor' one."

"What is the 'middle' strategy?"

Under the bright sunlight in front of the gate, the young magistrate's shadow on the ground paused. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then left behind four words before walking inside without looking back:

"Work-for-relief."

"Work... for-relief?" Xie Lingjiang stood in place, ruminating for a while. She still couldn't grasp it. She stood in the sun for a moment longer, then turned and left.

However, Ouyang Rong, now back inside the Plum Deer Garden, did not know that his junior sister had not gone far after leaving the gate. She merely walked ten steps down the long street to the south and calmly turned into the massive mansion next door, which bore the plaque "Su Residence."

Dressed in men's clothing, wearing a cap, sporting a sword, and with a longbow slung across her back, Xie Lingjiang walked into the private garden filled with blooming plum blossoms as if no one were there. She went straight to the woman in vermilion robes who was reclining under the eaves and asked:

"Sister Guo'er, what is the deeper meaning of 'work-for-relief'?"