[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful":3,"chapter-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-22":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Even a Gentleman Must Be Careful",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2268642,4429,"Chapter 22","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-22",22,"\u003Cp>Twenty-Two, “The Hypocrite”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss, Miss, look quickly, there are so many people outside—the new county magistrate is hearing cases on the street!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss, that Miss Xie is here too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss, the new magistrate seems to be judging the third young master of the Liu family—awesome, I want to see his buttocks split open…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough, stop peering.” A cool voice finally replied, then added lazily:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll fall off the wall again and your own buttocks will be the first to split open.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Miss, the new magistrate has already made the Liu third young master’s buttocks split open—wow, Miss Xie is really fierce.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lower your voice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh… but Miss, this new magistrate is actually quite handsome—I missed his face last time when I fell into the water from afar. No wonder he’s the third-place scholar of the Apricot Garden Banquet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just a vase of scholarly purity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But even a vase is pleasing to the eye—it looks fine just sitting there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A vase: scholars use it to display status, emperors to polish their virtuous reputation, historians to adorn the annals, commoners to comfort themselves—and now even you, a little maid, use it for visual pleasure. It’s clearly good—its only flaw is that it shatters at the slightest drop, and does no good for real matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, I don’t understand… but Miss reads so much. This must be a compliment, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, Miss—this magistrate says he came to Longcheng to do only one thing: distribute relief, manage floods, and deliver justice—aren’t those three things? Hmm, did I miscount?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You didn’t miscount.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew it—I counted on my fingers, how could I be wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You just have a poor mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miss, why do you seem so uninterested? Last time the new magistrate took office, you didn’t hesitate to bring me along to watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why waste time watching something whose quality is obvious at a glance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then… what quality did you see?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the eaves, a woman in vermilion robes lowered her eyes as she turned pages, recalling the recent impeachment of her relative—her pink lips and white teeth curled into a faint sneer:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hypocrite.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Madam, Longcheng is an ancient county.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One of the counties established since Emperor Qin Shi Huang instituted the commandery-county system.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three hundred years ago, the famed scholar Tao Qian served here as county magistrate for eighty-one days—hence his alternate name, Tao Longcheng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why only eighty-one days?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eighty-one days is already generous—we’re told other officials served even shorter terms, and Longcheng was his final post—quite a memorable one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just don’t get these scholars. Why quit their posts so easily?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The county annals say he resigned because he wouldn’t bend his waist for five pecks of rice, then returned home with his seal. But he left behind many poems and noble tales. Madam, look at this plum grove behind the estate—legend says Tao Qian, while magistrate, released a pair of plum deer here, and they’ve since mated and multiplied, so now many plum deer dwell in Longcheng’s hills.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two deer at the start? Could they have bred so many?” Madam Zhen’s tone was skeptical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough, cough—who knows? Perhaps other deer came from elsewhere too. It’s all possible. Madam, just treat it as a lovely tale—no need to take it literally.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wuxu quietly exhaled. Bringing a woman to tour the estate was never his forte—especially not a sharp-tongued beauty like the magistrate’s aunt. Only the magistrate himself could possibly control her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long ago, the court session at the county gate ended successfully; the magistrate had gone with the assistant magistrate and others to inspect relief efforts, leaving Yan Wuxu to fetch Madam Zhen and escort her to the new residence prepared for the magistrate’s family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last flood had destroyed many of the already dilapidated county buildings, and the water supply was contaminated—now the county office could barely hold public meetings; the main hall and flower pavilion were unfit for habitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the assistant magistrate and others found the magistrate a new residence on Deer Cry Street, near the county office. Word was, a wealthy neighbor, hearing of the county office’s plight, offered it voluntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though modest in size, the courtyard was elegant and serene. The magistrate brought few attendants—only one secretary, Xie Ling—so space was not cramped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Madam, please look—this four-courtyard residence, named Plum Deer Garden, sits on Deer Cry Street, very close to the county office. The magistrate can easily commute to work and meals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wuxu paused, then smiled to fill the silence: “By the way, our Longcheng street and house names are all quite refined—they’re tied to famous scholars and deeds. For example, the West Market has Yuanming Tower and Yuanming Street; my own neighborhood has Duke Di Street and the Di Diaphragm Dam. Perhaps when the magistrate is promoted, our people will honor him with a similar legacy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard of Tao Qian, Tao Yuanming—but who is this Duke Di?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wuxu’s expression glowed with pride. “That’s Duke Di from court—he was once chancellor, then exiled by the Empress from Luoyang to serve as our county magistrate. He was the one who tamed the great flood; he built the Di Diaphragm Dam first. When he left, the people of Longcheng wept and escorted him ten miles with umbrellas, then erected a living shrine for him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lady in the robed skirt, directing servants and cooks as they moved belongings, turned and said: “It feels as if every magistrate who comes to Longcheng meets misfortune. My Tanlang was promoted on paper but exiled in truth—alas.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” Yan Wuxu was left speechless, so he muttered: “Madam, don’t worry—look at Duke Di—he eventually rose back to court. As long as one is ‘remembered by the Empress,’ all is well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Madam Zhen nodded, then pointed deep into Plum Deer Garden: “Someone, clear out the innermost room—this will be Tanlang’s study. Perfectly adjacent to the plum grove behind—it’s quiet and serene, ideal for reading.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Wuxu glanced over and added casually: “That plum grove connects to the neighboring estate—the wealthy family who donated the house. Madam, keep your servants in line—don’t let them wander in by accident.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, at the entrance to Plum Deer Garden, Ouyang Rong had just finished handing over duties to Assistant Magistrate Diao and now had a moment’s respite. He returned with Xie Ling to familiarize himself with the new residence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Ling, are you sure you won’t move in with us? I’ll have my aunt prepare a courtyard for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no need to trouble your aunt,” Xie Ling hesitated, glancing around. “An elder’s home is nearby—I can stay there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong didn’t press. He nodded, bid farewell, and stepped toward the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, Xie Ling suddenly called: “Brother Lianghan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today’s court case… well handled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just echoing others’ words.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No—you have that ‘qi.’ My father said words are mere surface; the ‘qi’ within a Confucian is the root.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I stayed because I’m seeking a certain ‘qi.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it the qi of righteous grandeur?” Ouyang Rong tried to understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes and no.” Xie Ling felt a pang of longing. “It’s the qi of a Qi Refiner—harder than that. It’s the qi you released just now, when you stood before the crowd and spoke out—that fleeting moment. I saw it, but I don’t understand it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder his usually rigid, cold little sister had suddenly turned and stared at him when he declared aloud, “I do only one thing”—Ouyang Rong now understood a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong wanted to ask if it was his charm leaking out—but he doubted it. His little sister admired “broad pectorals,” not mindless beauty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll take it as your generous praise. We have time. If you see it again, remind me—I’m curious about this ‘qi.’” He smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Ling nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On the way down the mountain, I saw refugees, bullies, lawlessness… the disaster here in Longcheng… I noticed you and Assistant Magistrate Diao seemed to argue inside earlier?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just a slight difference in relief philosophy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Lianghan, do you have a good plan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not a good plan—just a middling one. But better than the current bottom-tier approach.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the middling plan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath the bright sunlight at the gate, the young magistrate’s shadow paused as he prepared to enter—hesitated a moment—then left four words, without turning back:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Work-for-relief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Work-for-relief?” Xie Ling stood frozen, chewing the phrase. Still puzzled, he stood in the sun a while longer, then turned and walked away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Ouyang Rong didn’t know as he returned to Plum Deer Garden for dinner was that his little sister hadn’t gone far after leaving the gate. She had merely walked ten paces south along the main street, then calmly turned into the grand estate beside it, its gate bearing the sign “Su Fu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dressed as a man, wearing a hat and sword, with a longbow slung across her back, Xie Ling walked unimpeded into a private garden thick with blooming plum trees, and directly asked the woman reclining beneath the eaves in vermilion robes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister Su, what does ‘work-for-relief’ truly mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>",1516,"2026-06-19T21:28:25.445Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","0f29175c26b084ac8193c3ae7d05122dad5a864fb87d8b08ba0599c379a9244d","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-23","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-21",864,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feven-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-cover.jpg"]