Chapter 464 - 402: Mending the Dike

Chapter 464: Chapter 402: Mending the Dike

August 5th, in the afternoon.

Liyang Commandery City. The Docks.

The river was vast and shrouded in mist. In the distance, the silhouette of an official ship flickered in and out of view through the curtain of rain.

Governor Gao Changhe, along with a host of officials from the Liyang Commandery Magistrate’s Office and representatives of the local scholars and gentry, had been waiting at the docks for a long time.

"They’re here."

Someone whispered.

The official ship slowly drew alongside the dock, and a gangplank was lowered.

A squad of guards was the first to disembark, quickly forming two lines.

Then, two men descended the gangplank side by side.

The man on the left was in his fifties. Gentle and refined, with three long wisps of a beard, he had the air of a great scholar. This was none other than Xu Yuanzhi, the State Governor of Jiangzhou.

The elder to his right was in his sixties, with a lean, taut build. Though his temples were frosted with gray, his gait was steady and firm. His every movement carried the grim, imposing aura of a military man. This was the Duke of England, who had traveled south by imperial decree.

Gao Changhe hurried forward and bowed deeply. "This humble official, Governor Gao Changhe of Liyang, along with my Liyang colleagues, respectfully welcomes Your Grace the Duke and the Lord State Governor."

The officials behind him echoed in unison, "We respectfully welcome Your Grace the Duke and the Lord State Governor."

The Duke of England merely grunted in acknowledgment. His gaze was like a lightning strike, sweeping over the faces of the crowd before pausing for a fraction of a second on Luo Pingyuan, then withdrawing.

Xu Yuanzhi’s gaze swept over everyone. He smiled and said, "The rain may be light, but it is an annoyance all the same. Fellow officials, there is no need for us to exchange pleasantries here. Let us first return to the residence."

Gao Changhe turned to the side and gestured for them to follow. "Your Grace, Lord State Governor, this way, please. I have prepared carriages. Everything at the residence has been arranged."

The Duke of England and Xu Yuanzhi said no more and boarded the waiting carriage.

Gao Changhe let out a quiet sigh of relief. He turned and shot a look at the others, and everyone boarded their respective carriages. The convoy slowly pulled away from the docks, heading into the city.

...

The Sun Family Mansion now bore a plaque that read "Chen Mansion."

When the convoy arrived, servants were already waiting, holding umbrellas aloft.

Gao Changhe personally escorted the Duke of England and State Governor Xu Yuanzhi inside.

The other accompanying officials were led by the deans and officers from the Commandery Magistrate’s Office to their pre-assigned quarters to settle in.

After passing through several courtyards, they arrived at the main hall.

The hall was elegantly appointed. Braziers filled with fragrant charcoal dispelled the dampness of the rainy day.

The Duke of England and Xu Yuanzhi took their places in the seats of honor, one on the left and one on the right.

Gao Changhe took the first seat below the hosts. He was followed in order by County Captain Zhao Yuanhong, Deputy Governor Xiao Zilun, and the five County Magistrates of Liyang.

A serving girl padded forward, offered clear tea, and retreated without a sound.

A momentary silence fell over the hall.

Xu Yuanzhi lifted his teacup, gently nudging the floating leaves aside. His gaze swept over the men seated below him, finally coming to rest on Luo Pingyuan. He broke the silence. "Some days ago, a few rumors were spreading like wildfire within Jiangzhou City."

His tone was casual, as if making small talk. "They say Magistrate Luo was secretly imprisoned by Governor Gao, and that his cultivation was even crippled. Governor Gao, have you heard of this?"

Gao Changhe’s heart seized. He shot to his feet. "My Lord Governor, that is nothing but a baseless street rumor, complete nonsense. Since arriving to my post in Liyang, I have always been scrupulous in my duties. I would never dare commit an act so contrary to the laws of the Court! I implore you to see the truth, Lord Governor!"

’He had indeed been on tenterhooks before Luo Pingyuan’s arrival today. After all, with only one day, who could say if it would work?’

’It was only when he saw Luo Pingyuan this morning and sensed the distinct aura of the first level of the Spirit Realm—the Meridian Passage—that his heart, which had been caught in his throat, finally settled.’

Xu Yuanzhi remained noncommittal. His gaze shifted to Luo Pingyuan as he asked coolly, "Magistrate Luo, is there any truth to these street rumors?"

Instantly, the eyes of everyone in the hall focused on Luo Pingyuan.

Luo Pingyuan rose, bowed with cupped hands, and answered with a composed expression, "Reporting to the Lord Governor, there is absolutely no truth to this. Since taking up his post, Governor Gao has shown great concern for his subordinates. He would never commit such a shocking act."

He paused before continuing, "The source of this rumor is actually my wife’s kin, the Jiang Family. They were displeased because I insisted on upholding the law and refused their request to use the authority of the Jingshan County Magistrate’s Office to forcibly procure raw silk. Out of resentment, they fabricated this rumor, intending to frame an official and vent their personal frustrations."

At this, he bowed even more deeply. "This disturbance was caused by my failure to manage my own household, which has in turn implicated my superior. The fault is mine. I ask for punishment from the Lord Governor."

Xu Yuanzhi listened quietly, his face unreadable. When Luo Pingyuan had finished, the faint smile on his lips seemed to become a little more genuine, and his posture visibly relaxed.

As the Governor of Jiangzhou, if a scandal of a governor imprisoning and crippling a county magistrate were to truly happen under his jurisdiction, it would be a disaster. Once the matter reached the Court, even if he avoided severe punishment, his career would be tarnished, and his standing with the Emperor would inevitably suffer.

’Now, the outcome was merely a local noble family spreading rumors out of spite. While still a hassle, it was a far more manageable situation.’

He turned his head toward the Duke of England, his tone now light. "Your Grace, it seems to have been a misunderstanding."

The Duke of England, who had been sitting with his eyes closed in meditation, now opened them. His gaze was like a torch as it swept over Luo Pingyuan once more. He nodded. "If that is so, then all is well."

’Gao Changhe was a man he had brought from the capital. If he were truly responsible for such a scandal, the Duke himself would lose face.’ He immediately demanded, "This Jiang Family—what is their background? To dare spread rumors about an official of the Court and treat the laws of the land as nothing?"

Xu Yuanzhi answered, "The Songjiang Jiang Family are descendants of Jiang Wan’an, who was the military commander of Ningzhou two hundred years ago. They can be considered one of Jiangzhou’s local noble families. Unfortunately, the later generations have not been very accomplished, and no one from their family has entered the civil service in decades. There is one member of their clan, however, named Jiang Hongxin. He is an Elder of the Hidden Sword Sect and a disciple of the Cyan Cliff Swordsmen. He has a certain reputation in the Jianghu."

The Duke of England snorted. "Even as descendants of officials, they cannot be allowed to act with such impunity. Slandering a court-appointed official and sowing chaos in the region—such a trend cannot be allowed to continue. State Governor Xu, how do you propose to handle this?"

Xu Yuanzhi nodded and looked at Luo Pingyuan. "Magistrate Luo, while this matter was not your fault, it did ultimately create a negative disturbance in Jiangzhou because of you. Therefore, you are fined three years’ salary. I trust that in the future, you will conduct yourself with greater integrity and be more cautious in your words and actions. Do not allow your family’s affairs to tarnish the dignity of the Court again."