Chapter 17: Treasure

"What? The old Director of Agriculture has fallen ill! Ziyu, who told you that?"

"Last night someone from the Xue family came to the Directorate of Agriculture to request leave, so Lord Chen notified the Locust Willow Court."

Zhao Xing frowned and said, "Is it serious? Do we know the specifics?"

Qian Dong beside him shook his head: "Only that he's taken ill and needs to rest for a while, but no specific timeframe was given. The daily affairs of the Locust Willow Court will be temporarily managed by Lord Chen."

Zhao Xing pondered and said, "I'd like to go to Xue Fu to visit him. Would you be willing to come along?"

Chen Ziyu shook his head: "I'm afraid not. Lord Chen specifically instructed us not to go visit, so as not to disturb the old Director of Agriculture. Whoever went early, Xue Fu also closed its doors to visitors."

Zhao Xing's brow furrowed deeper. Something is off.

First, the leave has no set duration — if it were a minor illness, would it really come to this?

And then closing the doors to visitors, not even allowing anyone to call on him — that's even more suspicious.

"Xue Wenzhong is ninety-eight, and the imperial court even granted him an extension of life. By all rights, his time hasn't come yet; he shouldn't be dying now."

"But the court's life-extension blessing isn't an absolute guarantee of a life free of illness or disaster. It's perfectly normal for an old man to fall ill, but forbidding visits and needing so much time — what kind of illness is this? If he's sick for a year or more and can't return to his post for ages... sigh, old Director of Agriculture, you have to hold on."

"Uncle, you have to hold on. Bai'er will be all right." At Xue Fu, beside the sickbed in the side room, a white-haired old man looked at Xue Wenzhong lying on the bed, his face full of worry.

The speaker was called Xue Quan, Xue Wenzhong's nephew.

The imperial court's 【Life-Extension Blessing】 generally does not extend its grace to the wives and children of ninth-rank officials. In theory, Xue Wenzhong could live to one hundred and fifty, but his wife and children did not share this fortune. His old lady passed at eighty-three, and his son and daughter-in-law died in their seventies.

So now the only one keeping Xue Wenzhong company is his relatively close nephew, Xue Quan. And this nephew is already over sixty himself.

Xue Wenzhong's eyes gazed out the window as he muttered to himself, "Sinful, so sinful."

At this moment his lips were slightly pale — indeed the symptom of illness — but the problem was actually not serious.

The reason he was lying in bed was purely from anger.

Yesterday he was informed by a household servant that his grandson Xue Bai had gotten into trouble in Juncheng and been arrested.

The cause was that Xue Bai had been out carousing in Juncheng, and after getting drunk got into a dispute with someone, beating them until they became heavy. Causing trouble in the city, he was naturally arrested at once. Xue Bai is currently held in the Juncheng prison, awaiting judgment.

Setting aside the consequences of paying compensation and serving time, in the eyes of the upright and proper Xue Wenzhong, what a disgraceful matter this was!

In his fury, Xue Wenzhong lost control of the primordial energy fluctuations within his body and fainted.

"Bai'er already knows he was wrong," Xue Quan consoled.

"Knows he was wrong? Knows he was wrong?" Xue Wenzhong's gaze fell on his nephew. "How many times has this been?"

Xue Quan recalled his nephew's past and could find no words to reply.

Xue Wenzhong served in the Directorate of Agriculture, his character and reputation both excellent. His son went into business and accumulated some wealth — that could count as a strength.

But by the grandson's generation, perhaps because Xue Bai was the sole heir and utterly spoiled, he had been a problem child from childhood.

Now, he had become a problem youth.

Did he truly know he was wrong? Even Xue Quan himself didn't quite believe it.

But he still had to try persuading: "After all, Xue Bai is your only bloodline left. If you won't save him, are you going to watch him be punished and imprisoned?"

Xue Wenzhong shook his head: "Before, he was merely idle and wasted some money. Now he's actually hurt someone and broken the law. Will the next time be a capital offense? Handle this matter as it should be handled, and none of you are to go running around in Juncheng."

"He hasn't even started a family yet. If something terrible happens to him in prison, wouldn't it be better to let my family's Ping'er go on your behalf..."

"His father's excessive indulgence is what brought this about. Shielding him this once — can you shield him for a lifetime? I can only guarantee he receives a fair judgment. Since no one else can discipline him, then let the law of the land have a go at him."

"But uncle..."

"Enough, I'm tired. You may go now." Xue Wenzhong seemed to have made up his mind.

Xue Quan had no choice. It seemed this was not the moment to press his case, so he could only bow and take his leave.

ottkanoc〇

A sigh rose within the side room. Xue Wenzhong thought of what had just been said, his eyes full of sorrow. He could draw on some long-accumulated connections and family resources to save the boy, but would his grandson truly know his fault? If he himself were to pass in the future, who would be there to keep an eye on him and protect the Xue family's assets?

"Zhao Xing, Lord Chen summons you to the Hundred Flowers Court."

Just as he was about to leave the Locust Willow Court, someone suddenly came to pass on a message.

He had no idea why the big boss had suddenly called for him by name.

Could it be that his talents had been noticed by the big shot?

When he arrived, Zhao Xing realized he had been overthinking.

Because everyone on the top list was here. Chen Shijie had called not only him, but also the clerks who had made the top list.

Not just those from the last Lesser Heat exam — everyone who had passed this year's minor exam was here, though there weren't many, fewer than fifty in total.

When he arrived at the great hall of the Hundred Flowers Garden, he found the place was a little different from usual.

"What's going on? There are people from the county office too?"

"Isn't that Wang Long, the head of the Martial Section?"

"And at least seven martial artists who have entered the ranked realm. What's happening — has someone in the Directorate of Agriculture broken the law?"

"I don't know. Keep quiet — Lord Chen has arrived."

Zhao Xing listened in silence.

In a short while, Chen Shijie arrived. He first quieted the crowd, then nodded to Wang Long, who stepped forward, cupped his fist, and addressed the assembly: "Today we have invited Lord Chen to gather you all because of the strange incidents that have occurred throughout Nanyang Commandery in recent months. A gang of mysterious evildoers has been specifically targeting clerks of the Directorate of Agriculture, the workshop, and the like, carrying out abductions."

"In obedience to the commandery's orders, county offices everywhere must strengthen their vigilance and capture the bandits. Within the city, none of you need worry, but once outside, it is best to travel in groups during the day. If you spot anyone tailing you or anyone suspicious, please report it promptly."

"The East Lake Army and the various departments of the prefectural gate have all been dispatched. I believe the bandits will be caught soon, so there is no need for undue alarm."

A stir ran through the crowd below. In these times, there are still brazen bandits running about? They must have a death wish.

Zhao Xing was also somewhat surprised to hear this. How does the Xuantian Sect already have such great power at this point? They've even forced the authorities to make such a big fuss.

After Wang Long finished speaking, Chen Shijie addressed them:

"The talents on the top list are all reserve Agronomists with decent aptitude. If the worst truly comes to Gucheng, you will be the targets."

"As a precaution, I have specially applied for and drawn a batch of treasures from the Transport Office."

"I won't go into their effects at length — they are items only a full-fledged Agronomist may use, so they are merely lent to you temporarily for self-defense."

"There's no need to panic too much. It may not even be of any use—it's just a precaution against the unexpected."

As soon as the words were spoken, someone moved through the ranks of clerks, distributing the treasures one by one.

As for why they were only given to these people, the reason had already been explained: generally, only outstanding talents were abducted; the mediocre ones had no need to worry at all.

Soon Zhao Xing also saw the treasures being handed out.

He naturally was no stranger to the standard equipment of a formal Agricultural Official, but upon seeing them, he was still mildly surprised: "Hm? These two items? And the quality is actually quite decent?"