Chapter 229

Your Highness, since that day the student has been confined at home these years; only after the teacher's letter arrived did I summon the courage to step out of the house.

The old year has passed, leaving only the present.

When Chun Ri Jian mentioned this, he lightly lifted a corner of his front robe, and only then did Du Shanü clearly see something quite out of the ordinary——

The other's gait earlier was no different from an ordinary person's, but beneath the robe......

The thickness of the two shoes is clearly different.

The left shoe's heel is much higher than the right's, clearly because after the ankle injury the two legs are no longer equal in length, so one can only walk wearing specially made shoes of unequal height.

This injury is far heavier than Du Shanü had originally guessed.

Du Shanü, lost in thought, suddenly asked:

"You reported the master's household for fraud, and on the day the results were posted you suddenly startled the horse—such a coincidence, didn't you investigate the matter?"

Chun Ri Jian pondered for a few breaths, yet also did not show the dullness or anger Du Shanü had guessed.

On that respectful, composed 'Cang Hu' face, there was only plainness.

That plainness reached an extreme, becoming this person's unique, and a contempt toward the powerful——

"Your Highness, the matter you speculated about, the student has also verified—it is indeed done by that young master of the master's household."

"Although I know it, I can do nothing against them. My family is merely a branch; even Hepu Commandery defers to the master's household a bit, so my parents have no avenue for redress, no way to pursue it, and still have to rely on the master's patronage to get by...... I have never been able to swallow this resentment."

"This time I left home and came far here, actually harboring a bit of hope: if the teacher could help me secure a minor official post—whether Chief Clerk, county magistrate, registrar, inspector, treasury officer, tax officer...... as long as it is an 'official' with rank, salary, and imperial appointment, I could straighten my back a little and bring my parents from Qiongzhou, no longer having to live watching the master's household's face."

"Of course, if no minor official post is available, a clerk will do; though clerks lack rank, I am confident in my abilities and, given time, will surely obtain an official position."

Not surprising at all.

Du Shanü is indeed not surprised at all.

If one says this person's ability in handling affairs earlier was shocking, then lifting that robe, Du Shanü knew this person was certainly not lacking——

Just by looking at the length of the two legs, one can also tell how severe the injury was back then.

Yet now, when the person steps out, they are exactly like an ordinary person, their gait even more steady and composed—evidently they have undergone top‑level hard training at home.

The pain and struggle during that period need not be elaborated.

This child, having suffered such a great calamity, still possesses such tenacity......

Du Shanü pondered for a few breaths, then waved a hand and said:

Never mind, never mind, no need to speak of minor official posts; as long as you don't mind that we will later rebel, let alone being County Secretary, even letting you be Magistrate is fine. I should still stay in Cang Cheng for a few days; think it over well and reply to me later, no rush.

By the way, I'll put the unpleasant truth up front: the preceding stretch of the Two Rivers Circuit has just suffered a flood and is not affluent, and the tin mine I control has not yet sold its output after extraction; if you come, you'll receive each month...... ten taels of silver?

When Chun Ri Jian was sent here by his teacher, he did not believe he had luck; just as Du Shanü spoke of her intention to rebel and then closed the gate, he also did not feel lucky, and even when talking to Du Shanü about the past, he still did not feel lucky.

But now......

He indeed feels he has some luck now.

Only ten taels of silver per month?

Chun Ri Jian muttered to himself, and Du Shanü even saw the other's narrow eyes open a bit wider.

Chun Ri Jian bowed deeply, and his words finally carried a hint of urgency:

That is naturally excellent!

Not to mention ten taels...... the student is willing to offer twenty taels each month, just to obtain an official post!

Attendant, bring the three boxes of ginseng nourishing pills that my parents gave me when I left home, and present them all to Your Highness.

Wait, wait.

How did they bring out the ginseng nourishing pills again!

This stuff, Du Shanü truly cannot enjoy it!!!

Just three pellets make her nosebleed nonstop; lately her internal energy constantly surges, and whenever she wants to get close to Chinu, she always has to take medicine while.....

Now it's not three pellets, but three whole boxes! Three boxes!

How long will she be unable to touch her own obedient slave......

No, no.

Wrong, wrong.

What's important seems not the ginseng nourishing pills, but......

but......

Du Shanü belatedly came to her senses, a hint of doubt slowly appearing on her face:

What ten taels, twenty taels?

Chun Ri Jian, who had been happily bowing low, upon hearing this lifted his head and quickly glanced at Du Shanü.

Chun Ri Jian: '?'

Du Shanü: '?'

The two stared at each other, each with their own doubts.

Chun Ri Jian wanted to speak but stopped.

"Your Highness, what you just said—could it not be that I need to pay you money to become an official?"

Du Shanü stopped speaking, then wanted to continue, gritting her teeth:

Of course not!

Oh no, oh no, she forgot that Afang and Chinu are not the type to follow ordinary paths.

The 'talent' Afang found is surely also extremely individualistic.

This Chun Ri Jian, these years seeking office has nearly gone mad; hearing her say ten taels a month, he actually thought he had to come up with ten taels!

Knowing this kid's family has money, but they don't need to be that wealthy!

Bringing one's own silver to take office might be okay, but this would require so much money......

Du Shanü was busy figuring in her head, but when she spoke again, she only said:

"Forget it, it's not about these ten or twenty taels; since you've already decided to go with me on this venture, how could I possibly treat you unfairly?"

"You'll have the money; if you do well from now on, even a higher post could be possible."

"I'm different from others; when it comes to rewards and punishments, I'm never vague, and I make no exceptions."

Although silver is good, the act of pursuing small profit while forgetting great righteousness will never appear in Du Shanü.

Du Shanü said this not only to tell Chun Rijian that her plans would only grow broader, but also to tell everyone in the courtyard——

She, Du Shanü, lacks heroes the least in this lifetime.

If anyone ever displeases her, she can at any moment replace them with another capable person.

In this world, no one is irreplaceable.

"As for this matter, first handle it as I instructed......"

Du Shanü raised her hand and gave a casual wave:

"Don't let these people stand there foolishly; get everything ready and come to the study to see me."

Ouyang Yan shut his eyes tight, heartbroken, while Yu Lve, who had stayed silent beside him, could not calm the fractured look on his face no matter what.

He simply couldn't fathom that someone would ignore scouts' reports......

But Du Shanü is precisely that sort of person.

Perhaps, perhaps what his cousin earlier told him was correct——

This person is mighty and magnificent, rivaling the sun and moon......

Will the sun and moon show mercy to the world?

No.

This time he has betrayed her trust; I fear only a long time can make up for it......

Perhaps it's impossible to make up at all.

?? A-Chun, who brings money to work, also came, hehehe (*^▽^*)