Chapter 59: Reward

Yun Shui glanced at his Prince's expression; having served at his master's side for many years, he knew very well that his master's mood had seemingly started to sour the moment he mentioned that County Magistrate Xie had arrived.

Magistrate Xie shouldn't have offended his master in any way.

"Master, shall we not invite the County Magistrate in?"

Mo Junyan gave him a glance, and Yun Shui hurriedly lowered his head and closed his mouth.

"Let him in."

"Yes."

Before long, Xie Yuwei followed behind Yun Shui and walked in.

"This official greets the Prince." Xie Yuwei's attitude was respectful. Mo Junyan raised his eyes to look at him and said lightly, "Rise."

"Thank you, Prince. This official was unaware of Your Highness's arrival and failed to welcome you from afar. I beg the Prince's forgiveness."

"This Prince is not a petty man. There is no need to put on these empty official courtesies before This Prince."

"Yes."

Yun Shui stood to one side, his eyes darting toward his master from time to time.

How had Magistrate Xie offended his master?

Though his master's temperament was cold, he rarely spoke with such barbed words.

"I have long heard that His Highness Prince Li possesses an extraordinary bearing. This official is of low standing and has never been to Jingcheng or met the Prince. Seeing you today proves the rumors are no falsehood."

"I hear you are a student of Elder Chi?"

"To answer the Prince, my master is indeed Elder Chi."

"Elder Chi retired from officialdom many years ago. I never imagined that one day his student would return to serve in office."

Xie Yuwei merely smiled and said nothing.

"This locust plague has been devastating. Magistrate Xie has rendered meritorious service in disaster relief. I expect the palace's reward will come down very soon."

Xie Yuwei said with a smile, "Sharing the Emperor's burdens and serving Daqi is the duty of every subject. Moreover, the method for managing the locust plague was not devised by this official, but by a villager from Yuping Village. This official dares not claim the credit."

"You are quite honest." Mo Junyan said with a smile, "Then this villager you speak of — who is it?"

"She is a young woman named Chi Nan Yi. As it happens, she shares the same surname as my master."

"Chi Nan Yi." Mo Junyan nodded. "To come up with a method for managing the locust plague is truly no simple feat. Having made such a great contribution, This Prince ought to offer some reward." He waved his hand, and two guards walked out carrying trays.

On each tray sat a hundred taels of gold.

"Have someone deliver it. Say it is a reward from This Prince. Apart from the Chi Family, there is no need to let anyone else know."

"Yes. This official thanks the Prince on Miss Chi's behalf for the reward."

Hearing this, Mo Junyan smiled faintly. "If it is to give thanks, she ought to come in person. Lord Xie is neither kin nor acquaintance of that young woman. To thank on her behalf like this — is that not rather improper?"

"Yes, this official understands."

"This Prince has no further business."

"Then this official takes his leave."

Xie Yuwei looked at the gold and hesitated for a moment. "Prince, this subordinate fears he cannot carry away so much gold. Might it be exchanged for silver notes?"

Yun Shui could not help but startle at these words. This Lord Xie truly had nerve, daring to make a request of their Prince.

"For an ordinary household to store so much gold, I fear it may invite disaster."

"Disaster?" Mo Junyan's gaze swept coldly and sharply across Xie Yuwei's neck. "Lord Xie's words are not without reason. Yun Shui."

"Yes."

Taking out two silver notes and handing them to Xie Yuwei, Yun Shui also took a few extra looks when seeing him out.

Truly worthy of being Elder Chi's student — his spine was ramrod straight.

Mo Junyan's eyes narrowed slightly. In his mind he recalled the scene of encountering Chi Nan Yi that day in the Bai family's courtyard, and the corners of his lips could not help but rise.

With her cleverness, she would thrive even in a place like this. But even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice. With this silver, she could be free from worry over food and clothing for the time being.

"Master, news has come from Jingcheng. The Emperor urges you to return to the capital."

"Mm." Mo Junyan said lightly, "Let him wait."

Yun Shui: "..."

To dare make the Emperor wait — his master was probably the only one.

Xie Yuwei did not return to Qingjun County with the silver notes, but headed straight for Yuping Village.

The Chi family looked at the silver notes on the table and momentarily forgot to breathe.

Two hundred taels — in gold!

This was gold!

Their entire family could not earn this much silver in several lifetimes, even without eating or drinking.

"My lord, you mean to say this is a reward from His Highness Prince Li?"

"Exactly." Xie Yuwei nodded. His gaze fell upon Chi Nan Yi's face. For some reason, looking at her, he actually felt a sense of familiarity. "Miss Chi, the Prince has given a reward, but you must go to thank him for his grace."

Chi Nan Yi nodded. "This commoner knows. Many thanks, my lord. But how is this commoner to go to the Prince to give thanks?"

"This..." Xie Yuwei thought for a moment. "If so, this official shall take you there myself."

Hearing that she was going to see the Prince, the expressions on Shen Shi's and the Chi family couple's faces could not help but stiffen.

"My lord." Chi Ting Song stepped forward and said with a smile, "My lord, my daughter is young and fears she may give offense to the Prince. Perhaps you might let this commoner go in her stead!"

"Yes, my lord, Yi'er is still a child, after all..."

"You need not worry. Since this official is taking her, I will certainly bring her back safely."

Hearing him say this, Chi Ting Song and Wen Zhilan could say no more.

After they left, the family began to sit restlessly, unable to settle.

Shen Shi was even more frantic with worry.

Chi Zhiqiu and Madam Ruan, seeing this, were quite puzzled: "Father, Mother, our little sister came back from Jingcheng. If we're talking about etiquette, she's far better than the rest of us. She certainly won't give any offense when she sees the Prince, so what are you so worried about?"

"Yes, Mother." Chi Huai Qian said with a smile: "If I were to see the Prince, I probably wouldn't even know which leg to step forward first."

Chi Nan Yi sat in the carriage behind, traveling all the way to an estate.

Looking around the estate, Chi Nan Yi couldn't help but nod inwardly. Prince Li really knew how to pick a place—there were mountains and water here, and behind it a hundred mu of good farmland. If one could live here, it would be as pleasant as could be.

"Lord Xie." Yun Shui stepped forward and said softly: "Lord Xie, Miss Chi, please come inside."

Chi Nan Yi looked at Yun Shui, and couldn't help but recall the day at the market when he picked up the long sword and swung it down.

"Miss Chi, it seems you still remember me."

Chi Nan Yi nodded. Of course she remembered—a scene like that was very hard for anyone to forget.

Taking a person's life with a wave of the hand, to the point that every horse and carriage seller on that street cut their prices by half.

But then again, she had profited from misfortune—at the very least, she had bought the carriage at an extremely cheap price.

"Miss Chi, please come inside! The Prince is waiting!"

Xie Yuwei had originally thought Prince Li would be waiting for them in the main hall, but unexpectedly they were told he was in the courtyard out back.

Generally speaking, officials like them could at most enter the main hall; as for the rear courtyard and similar places, only trusted confidants could go there.

He certainly didn't think Prince Li would regard him as one of his own people.

Upon reaching the rear courtyard, Chi Nan Yi spotted a man sitting in a wheelchair, wearing a half golden mask on his face, holding a brush in his hand and painting something.

Come to think of it, that day at the market when she saw him, he also seemed to be sitting in the carriage and never got down—could it be that Prince Li was a cripple?

"Master." Yun Shui said respectfully: "Lord Xie and Miss Chi have arrived."