Chapter 209: Never Be the Ungrateful Kind

Yuan Jiaqi was at Bichun Garden in Jingcheng at this moment, playing chess with Wang Lao Xiansheng.

"Sir, staying in Jingcheng like this forever isn't really a thing, is it?"

"Divine intent is hard to gauge; he values you, perhaps there is some task for you, so don't panic."

"Wang Jiaru's Student doesn't want to accomplish great deeds, only wishes to start as a junior county magistrate and do some real work for the locals."

"Real work? It's not that I punish you; do you have silver?"

"Me!"

"Do you have influence? Going alone to be a county magistrate without strength will have you bullied by the locals, with no ability to fight back."

"They dare to disrespect an imperial appointee?"

"Respect? They haven't broken the law. For example, when disaster strikes and they need relief but refuse, what can you do? When bandits appear and you need their cooperation to capture them, and they act like fools, what will you do?"

Yuan Jiaqi suddenly felt the battlefield was like a war zone, and he furrowed his brows.

When Yuan Jiaqi stepped out of the Imperial Palace, he instantly wiped the sweat from his head; he fears nothing, except this— the sir had hinted that he must not let down Qiao Niang.

"What if I let my daughter and your wife both become wives?"

"Alright, go down. In two days the edict will be in your hands, and you may assume office immediately."

"Only one is your biological child; the other two are adopted, and the remaining one is your wife's maid?"

Yuan Jiaqi nodded, and at that moment a eunuch delivering a message arrived; the Emperor ordered him to enter the palace.

He performed a grand salute to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, I present myself!"

"Well, you are unwilling, and I cannot force you, but you must not stay in Jingcheng any longer."

Every word he spoke was carefully considered in his mind before being uttered.

Qiao Mai heard that Yuan Jiaqi was assigned to a county town in the north, felt quite pleased, and personally cooked a large, delicious spread of meals.

"Impossible, Your Majesty. You may have investigated my past and know how destitute I was when I was carrying my son. If my wife had not taken me in, if she had not fully supported me, I could not be where I am now. I would never become that ungrateful White-eyed Wolf, and besides, my feelings for my wife run deep; my heart can no longer accommodate anyone else."

Wang Lao Xiansheng's complexion turned somewhat sour; he also did not understand what the Emperor was up to this time, and kept stalling, refusing to let Yuan Jiaqi take his oath of office.

Lu Sanniang, hearing that Yuan Jiaqi had achieved a high rank, prepared a gift and sent it to Xiuhong.

Thus, in mid‑May, Yuan Jiaqi and the old sir finally returned to Tianshui Town.

The Emperor raised an eyebrow, "I recall your family is in Weicheng's Tianshui Town; that area is nearing Beiguan Fortress. How about you go to Shexian north of Tianshui Town?"

The Emperor still did not look up, continuing to annotate the memorial while speaking with him.

Yuan Jiaqi lounged at home comfortably for three days, then set out to assume his post in Shexian. The old sir, fearing he would be without assistance, requested six guards from his son's side and accompanied him to the appointment.

"Sir, Wang Jiaru's Student does not belong to that ungrateful kind, and moreover, the student truly loves Qiao Niang."

"Indeed, I have been thinking intently about the dishes my wife makes," he said, his face still flushed.

Then Yuan Jiaqi followed the eunuch into the Imperial Palace, arriving outside Yushufang, where the Emperor was annotating a memorial.

Yuan Jiaqi lowered his head slightly, showing no hint of nervousness, and entered calmly.

"Remote?"

"Hmm, I heard you two treat each other with utmost respect?"

"Your Majesty, my feelings for my wife are profound; I would never divorce her."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Jiaqi immediately knelt down.

"I see, I told you so. You declined the marriage; the Emperor is a bit annoyed, but he is a wise ruler and naturally would not decree a forced marriage to a princess. Young man, you have impressed me."

"My wife is virtuous, treating my son as my own, so I naturally must repay her sincere heart."

"Then how?"

"Please, Your Majesty, make it clear."

"Yes, sir, it's just that Wang Jiaru's Student is quite foolish and doesn't know how to get along with my wife."

"At your age, you must already have a household, right?"

"I earnestly request Your Majesty to appoint me as county magistrate in a remote region; I wish to truly serve the people."

Yuan Jiaqi then recounted in detail to the sir everything that happened after leaving the Imperial Palace.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your favor."

Originally, Qiao Mai intended to have Wang Lao Xiansheng accompany him to the new post.

The old sir whispered a few words into his old wife's ear; the old madam pursed her lips and smiled, nodding repeatedly.

Such a situation had never arisen before; it truly left one feeling a bit bewildered.

Who knew the old sir would rather die than leave Jixiang Yuan, and even less want to become Yuan Jiaqi's advisor; his matters, he prefers to handle himself, and he had explained everything to him in detail along the way.

"Hehe, the transfer order will arrive within these two days."

"Jiaqi happens to live close to home, so he can return frequently."

Yuan Jiaqi was unperturbed, responding calmly; surely they had investigated him before summoning him.

The old sir's aged face also flushed, "I can't explain this now; later I'll have my old wife teach you."

"How's it going?"

"Hmm, settle down. Today I summoned you because I have a matter to ask you about."

The Emperor only then lifted his head and gave him a deep glance.

Qin Yide and Ruyi slipped in a gap and, on the eve before Yuan Jiaqi's departure, came over for a brief sit‑down.

Qiao Mai flicked his hand and handed him ten thousand taels of silver, letting him oversee the procurement of items.

Afraid of nothing, and I haven't done any wrongdoing.

Things like sour‑spicy chicken feet, everyone loves that bite; crisp, tasty garlic‑flavored water chestnuts; beef luncheon meat; deep‑fried small yellow fish; spicy hairy crabs and so on, all canned, opened and poured onto plates, filling the table to the brim—adults and children ate with sheer delight.

Other people, either early in the morning or in the evening, came over to congratulate while the weather was cool.

Back at Bichun Garden, the old master was waiting anxiously.

"Let him come in."

"Shexian, north of Tianshui Town."

"Guards?"

"And also the master, the one who devises plans for you."

"How could it be there?"

Yuan Jiaqi is now a court‑appointed official; coming over to sit and offer congratulations is permissible, but he accepts no gifts, and the gift that Lu Sanniang sent, Qiao Mai also had someone return it to her.

Because it is summer, she didn't cook any big fish or meat; everything she ate was purchased from the Platform.

"You must cultivate your own people, let them follow you to the ends of the earth, obey whatever you say, always charge ahead of you, shielding you from all danger."

"Where to?"

"It is like this: My Nü'er liked you when you were riding your horse through the streets, came to me to seek grace, wants to take you as an imperial son‑in‑law; I am not a fool, this kind of thing still requires your assent."

"Hmm, you won't need to take exams anymore; devote yourself to being this County Magistrate. With your wife's support, you'll manage the County Magistrate duties smoothly. Also, spend more effort on your wife, don't let reading books cost you your life."

Even a clever housewife cannot make a cake without rice; he silently accepted it.

The emperor even knows that the couple hasn't shared a bed, my goodness!

"It is my wife who thinks of me, not wanting to affect my studies; before I passed the imperial examination, we treated each other with courtesy."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I not only have a household, but also three sons and a daughter."

Hearing the eunuch's reply, he didn't even lift his head.

The old gentleman stroked his Huzi beautifully, "It's still more comfortable at home; I've stayed enough in Jingcheng, I think about returning every day."

Mayor Qian didn't come to join the fun; he's not in Tianshui Town right now. I heard his father passed away, and he returned to mourn.

He has never envied wealth or coveted power; his achievements are thanks to his wife's support and his own Effort.

"Yes!"

After taking office, what to do, how to handle matters—he's already analyzed everything for him. It's already like this, and they still want him to go; Yuan Jiaqi is just too incompetent.

But it's the old madam who insists that Yuan Jiaqi take Qiao Mai away, and go together to assume the post at Shexian.

What a joke—Weicheng is in drought, and if she leaves, what about the household? What about the water? She can't be asked to handle his affairs again and also manage the city's populace; that's too much, too tiring.

The old gentleman and the old madam exchanged a glance; if they don't go, then they won't, they can't force it.

(End of chapter)