The autumn days in the capital are also the most beautiful season, with grains, fruits, meats, and fishes piling up in the market, bustling with prosperity and activity everywhere.
For the horse farm outside of the city managed by the Pasture Supervision Bureau, it is also a time to stockpile carloads of fodder, only this time the line of carts outside the horse farm formed a long queue, unlike the speedy process of previous years.
"What's going on?"
"Isn't it finished yet?"
"Do we still need to check the hay?"
"We didn't have to check it before."
The delivery folks asked each other; although it was cool in the autumn day, the sunlight was still scorching hot, coupled with the stench from the horse farm, making the waiting people anxious and irritable.
"What on earth is going on? What are you doing? Are you trying to extort money? It's been several days, dragging on endlessly." A burly man ripped open his coat, exposing his hairy chest as he yelled, "Don't you see who I am..."
People there recognized him as a relative of the Pasture Supervision Judge, nicknamed Wan Qi, and he delivered more than half of the hay here.
In the past, when he visited, the clerks at the horse farm would come out to greet him, but this time Wan Qi stormed in filled with rage alone, and the crowd craned their necks to watch; soon after, a noisy commotion was heard within the horse farm, and then a scream ensued.
It was unknown which unfortunate clerk got beaten, but Wan Qi was a rascal in his youth and had trained himself to be tough.
As this thought passed, several clerks were seen dragging a man out and throwing him out. The crowd quickly surrounded, and seeing the fallen Wan Qi on the ground, they were once again in an uproar.
Wan Qi was no longer the fierce figure he had been moments ago. His face was swollen from being beaten, both eyes unclear, and what's more disgusting was that his mouth was stuffed with horse manure.
Who would be so vicious?
Someone pushing an empty cart came out from inside, saw the scene, and shrank his head with pursed lips, carrying a trace of fear.
"Just behave yourselves," he said quietly, "now the manager is the Duke of Chengguo's heir."
The Duke of Chengguo's heir?
The people exchanged surprised looks.
Wasn't the Duke of Chengguo's heir sent here as a punishment to raise horses? How did he become the manager?
With a slap sound.
A bundle of hay was slammed onto the table.
"Why should I inspect your hay?"
Under the shed built in front of the horse farm's hay house, Zhu Zan sat in a chair with his legs up on the table, swaying his body.
With long legs and arms, his chair only touched the ground with two legs and as it wobbled, it seemed as if it would fall down any moment, yet it mysteriously did not, keeping everyone on edge.
"I am here by imperial decree to raise horses," he declared, "Do you know what an imperial decree is?"
Indeed, they knew the term imperial decree, but wasn't his lordship punished to raise horses here?
Is punishment the same as an imperial decree?
But no one dared to voice such a doubt, the clerks standing by both sides nodded and kept a flattering smile affirming yes.
"Since I'm here by imperial decree to raise horses, if I don't raise them well, wouldn't that be defying the decree?" Zhu Zan said while waving the hay, looking around at the people, "Would you dare to defy it?"
Although it seemed a bit confusing why it would mean defying the decree, indeed they dared not!
The people around shook their heads in unison.
"So, for the horses to be raised well, the key is the hay," Zhu Zan stated, tossing the hay onto the table and pointing at a merchant standing in front, "Take this hay back and feed it to your pigs, don't just feed them for half a year, if after one month your pigs don't die, I will take all your hay."
The merchant, having just witnessed Zhu Zan knocking Wan Qi away with a punch and stuffing his mouth with horse manure, dared not show the slightest discontent, his face covered in sweat.
"Yes, yes, it's my fault," he repeatedly said, "my hay is substandard, I'll immediately find better quality."
Zhu Zan glared at him.
"Smart of you to realize," he remarked, "Get lost."
This discourteous remark actually made the merchant feel as though he had been granted amnesty.
"Thank you, Lord Heir," he gratefully bowed, waved at his workers, and dashed off with the cart as if flying.
Zhu Zan kicked back, and as his chair leaned backward, he tumbled down, causing the clerks standing by to cry out in alarm and rush to his aid, but Zhu Zan performed a back flip, steadied himself on his feet, and stabilized the chair that seemed about to fall, restoring it to steadiness.
The clerks dramatically breathed a sigh of relief, one brought Zhu Zan a hand towel, another fanned him, and yet another brought up hot tea.
"Lord Heir, please take a rest."
"Lord Heir, you've worked hard."
Everyone was offering chaotic compliments, Zhu Zan, staggering, walked over, took a towel to wipe his hands, and then a sip of tea.
"Look at him acting like a big shot," said Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, standing not too far away with his arms crossed and eyebrows raised. "This Horse Farm has become his world. How can he be so shameless? He was clearly sent here as a punishment, yet why is he acting so haughtily like a big shot?"
The surrounding Jinyiwei did not know how to respond.
"Report to His Majesty and let His Majesty reprimand him?" he asked.
"Reprimand what, the entire northern lands now rely on his father," said Jiang, the Hundred-man commander.
Watching Zhu Zan, surrounded by a flock of minor officials and swaggering, even dressed in horse-keeping clothes he looked every part the great lord.
"It's good to have a powerful father," he snorted.
While they were talking, two more people approached Zhu Zan.
Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, raised his eyebrow again.
"Aren't those Assistant Deng's servants?" he remarked.
As a Jinyiwei, he was well familiar with the servants and escorts of officials in the capital.
Assistant Deng was a significant official at the Censor Platform, deeply respected in the dynasty. The Censor Platform has been relentlessly accusing Duke of Chengguo in recent years; why would they be approaching Zhu Zan?
Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, watched as the two servants respectfully saluted Zhu Zan. Zhu Zan looked somewhat impatient, and from a distance, it was unclear what was being said, but the two servants not only weren't irritated but became even more respectful and handed over several documents to Zhu Zan.
Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, lifted his chin, and the nearby Jinyiwei quietly stepped back.
Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, remained silent, watching as Zhu Zan accepted the documents to read, spoke some words, and then the two men took out another document. Zhu Zan finally nodded, turned, and walked away, the two following him cheerfully.
A moment later, the investigating Jinyiwei returned.
"They came to request horses for Assistant Deng," he reported.
Dynasty officials of certain positions were all provided with cavalry escorts by the feudal authority, and Assistant Deng's status certainly qualified him.
Yet, Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, frowned.
"He manages the pastures, and he also handles the horse distribution?" he said.
"He originally didn't," replied the Jinyiwei. "But everyone prefers to have him select the horses, saying the Lord Heir picks horses that are both obedient and robust."
This young man, does he really have such a talent? Or is everyone just flattering him because of his father? Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, furrowed his brows.
A Jinyiwei came over from the side.
"Sir, news from the northern lands has arrived," he said, bowing.
Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, glanced at the Horse Farm.
"Keep a close watch on him, if he takes one step out of the Capital City," he said, "kill without mercy."
Two Jinyiwei bowed their heads in agreement.
Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, returned to the Northern Administrative Court, where Lu Yunqi was alone in the room looking at a letter.
"How is the investigation of Duke of Chengguo going?" Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, asked anxiously.
Lu Yunqi made a sound, slightly lifting his chin.
"I don't know yet; I haven't read it, you take a look," he responded.
Jiang, the Hundred-man commander, was stunned. He hadn't read it yet? Something so urgent... His gaze fell on the letter Lu Yunqi was holding, which must be even more crucial?
He took the letter from the table, broke the seal, and quickly read through it, a look of surprise appearing on his face.
"It's really baffling," he remarked. "Why does everyone speak so well of the Duke of Chengguo?"
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Thank you to ALATIN, Ice from the South, MAX Stone for the rewards and He's Bi O(∩_∩)O~
Thank you all.
Thank you all for your company and support, keeping second place in the monthly ticket ranking for August, deeply grateful.
A new month has arrived, and I will again request your support for the monthly tickets, thank you, thank you, bowing deeply.