Chapter 442: Chapter 443: Nursed Back to Health

As the newly appointed Magistrate, Ancient Wen Heng had no intention of keeping a low profile. As soon as the renovations were finished, he immediately summoned all the officials of the government office, major and minor.

He didn’t say much during their first meeting, merely making everyone’s acquaintance.

It also let everyone know where they stood and that from now on, he would be this city’s parents official.

Meanwhile, the injured Deputy who had moved out of the back office, along with the Minister of Communication and the Assistant Magistrate, all sent representatives to offer their apologies, never once making an appearance themselves.

In a courtyard in Lu City, the very men who had pleaded illness to avoid meeting their superior were now sitting together, sipping tea.

Deputy Xiao Yuling chuckled. "I thought I was the only one feeling unwell and unable to pay my respects to Mr. Gu. I never imagined you two would use the same excuse. Are you trying to throw me under the bus?"

"Mr. Xiao, you are mistaken," said Yin Shuo, the Minister of Communication. "Ever since I was stabbed in the back, I haven’t been able to sit for long periods. I only excused myself to avoid presenting a discourteous appearance before Mr. Gu.

Lord Cai, however, is taking it a bit too far. You merely injured your cheek, and the wound is almost fully healed now. To not show your face is really going overboard."

Cai Hua touched the scar on his face and snorted. "You two certainly know how to talk. Don’t you know that physical bearing, speech, calligraphy, and judgment are the standards for us civil servants? Now that my face is scarred, my future career is likely over.

Since things are already like this, why should I show up just to be humiliated?"

"Those words are improper, Lord Cai," Yin Shuo said. "General Zhou’s facial scar is far more gruesome than yours, yet isn’t he a First Rank official and an enfeoffed Marquis? Both injuries were sustained in service to the nation. Who knows, perhaps a great destiny awaits you, Lord Cai."

"Since Mr. Yin thinks so highly of it," Cai Hua retorted, "why don’t you take advantage of this opportunity and put a gash on your own face? Then your future prospects will be limitless."

"Enough arguing!" Xiao Yuling slammed his cup on the table. "Have you forgotten our current situation? How can you still have the energy to squabble over personal grudges?

They are already walking all over us! If you don’t start thinking of a plan, are you really prepared to just give up your official posts?"

"So what if they are?" Yin Shuo said, his voice laced with regret. "He came to take over by imperial decree. There have been no clear arrangements made for us. It’s as if we’ve been completely forgotten."

When Prefect Liu was assassinated, all of them were injured at the same time.

But they each had their own selfish ambitions. They wanted to use the opportunity to secure the Magistrate’s position for themselves, but none of them wanted to be the one to propose it.

It was as if they had all reached an unspoken agreement, using the excuse of being grievously ill and injured to abandon their duties.

They intended to plunge all of Lu City into chaos from a lack of governance, thereby forcing General Zhou to speak up on their behalf.

Who would have known that General Zhou was so straightforward? He sent a memorial to Shangjing by express courier without a second thought.

They had only themselves to blame for overacting. They had built up the drama so much that everyone in Lu City thought the three of them were on their deathbeds.

Whether for the future security of his own rear flank or for the sake of the city’s people, Zhou Shixiong had no time to waste on their games of mutual deception. He simply sent a memorial straight to the capital.

Just as they were secretly gloating, wondering when General Zhou would finally step up and ask them to take control, they received this rude awakening instead.

In the end, their minor injuries were mistaken as signs they were bedridden and on the verge of death.

Before they could even devise a countermeasure, the successor had arrived.

Thinking of the three officials who had come yesterday to demand their official seals, each of them felt an urge to slap himself.

In truth, this was also a result of slow communication. After all, a vital border city would be in even greater peril without its parents official, especially when all its key officials were supposedly injured.

Otherwise, according to protocol, someone from the lower ranks should have been promoted to fill the post temporarily.

They never expected that all their scheming would end up benefiting outsiders.

Since the news of their injuries had already spread, they didn’t dare risk the crime of deceiving the emperor. They could only continue the charade and remain holed up at home.

But if they remained in seclusion any longer, they might be forced into an ambiguous retirement, an outcome none of them were willing to accept.

"I plan to go see Mr. Gu later," Xiao Yuling said. It wasn’t that he had any deep friendship with the two men before him, but it was crucial for them to present a united front now.

Cai Hua frowned. "Will that even work? They all came here together, so their bonds must be stronger than ours. We don’t want to try something clever only to have it backfire."

"That’s where you’re mistaken," Xiao Yuling said, looking at them. "It has only been two days, but I’ve already gathered a great deal of useful information. I wonder if you two would be interested in hearing it?"

"Don’t keep us in suspense at a time like this," the other two said in unison.

Xiao Yuling said, "Our new Lord Prefect doesn’t seem to be on the best of terms with his two companions.

Yesterday, whatever Mr. Gu was doing, he didn’t include them. Furthermore, I’m sure Mr. Gu must have known that the three of them came to see us yesterday.

But he didn’t help them pressure us to hand over our duties quickly. That alone speaks volumes.

This is our only chance. I’m thinking of paying a personal visit to Mr. Gu to declare that I am fit to resume my duties."

"Then what about us?" Cai Hua still found the idea dubious. "We can’t possibly say that all three of us happened to recover at the exact same time."

Xiao Yuling replied, "Our injuries were never that serious in the first place. The physicians in the Prefecture City can attest to that.

We were just badly shaken. After taking sleeping pills for so long, our nerves have finally settled.

In that case, we can’t very well continue hiding in our homes. We have to join Mr. Gu in rebuilding Lu City and get everything back on track as quickly as possible."

Cai Hua and Yin Shuo remained silent, tacitly agreeing with his plan.

"For this first visit, what should we bring as a gift?" Cai Hua asked the other two for their opinions.

Since they were now preparing to form a united front, Xiao Yuling held nothing back. "Judging by the style in which they entered the city, our Mr. Gu must come from a very wealthy family.

Let’s not bother with flashy, impractical gifts. They’ve just settled in, so I’ll have my wife prepare some common household necessities. It’s a simple gesture of goodwill. I imagine Mr. Gu won’t refuse it."

"What about the other two?" Yin Shuo asked. "Should we do something for them as well?"

Xiao Yuling replied, "Things are so difficult to purchase outside right now. We can’t afford to provide for everyone.

If they really ask, we can have our subordinates take them for a stroll around the market."

At this, Xiao Yuling truly wanted to crack open Yin Shuo’s head to see what was inside. ’We are destined to be on opposing sides. Is it really necessary to waste any effort on them?’

"If you have so many silver coins to spare, you can support me instead," Cai Hua teased. "Don’t forget, they came here aiming for our posts."

"Alright," Xiao Yuling said with some exasperation. "Let’s put our past grievances aside for now. Go home, get your things ready, and we’ll go over there together."

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