Chapter 1252 - 1161: Lady Chancellor 100
On the main street, a child accidentally ran in front of Yin Shuangshuang’s retinue, causing everyone to stop urgently because the child appeared suddenly, ending up right before the hooves of Yin Shuangshuang’s carriage.
Fortunately, Ying Si, the coachman, was skilled enough, and stopped the carriage in an instant, swiftly bending down to pick up the child, preventing any further accidents.
The child was already dumbstruck with fear, unable to speak, while the parents were so terrified they knelt down with a thud in front of Yin Shuangshuang’s carriage, trembling as if sifting chaff.
For these common people, an official like the County Magistrate is even more frightening than the Emperor. Although the people did not fear Yin Shuangshuang as much anymore, their child had still collided with Yin Shuangshuang, the County Magistrate. The couple was afraid Yin Shuangshuang would be angry and, with timid personalities, dared not speak to plead for mercy, only able to tremble on the ground.
Yin Shuangshuang opened the curtain of the carriage and looked at the frightened child with a gentle tone: "Little one, you must be scared. Don’t run around next time."
After speaking, she took out a piece of pastry and placed it in the child’s hand, who stared blankly at her, then turned to the trembling couple on the ground and said, "You must look after your child well in the future. If they get accidentally stepped on by a horse, the consequences could be serious."
After finishing, Yin Shuangshuang lowered the curtain, and Ying Si took the child back. The dazed couple took the cake with both hands and kept turning their heads to look at Yin Shuangshuang’s departing carriage.
After Yin Shuangshuang’s procession moved away, the couple finally reacted and kowtowed several times in the direction Yin Shuangshuang left, then excitedly hugged their child tightly, relieved that the County Magistrate did not pursue the matter.
Once the couple finished kowtowing, the surrounding common people erupted with discussion.
Since these days have been better, the common people are particularly content, with much less worry on their faces, and when encountering something, they have the leisure to discuss it with each other.
"Lord County Magistrate is really approachable. Not only did he not get angry over this incident, but he even gave the child some pastry."
"This County Magistrate truly cares about us common folk. Look at her tirelessly patrolling the streets herself during this period, only then do we have stable days to live."
"I heard someone say this female County Magistrate is quite remarkable. Back then, she debated with the learned scholars at court, leaving those noble families’ scholars speechless. Truly impressive."
The common people saying this do not really understand what court means or what debating with learned scholars entails; they are merely repeating what they heard from the storytellers to show off.
Yin Shuangshuang’s reputation is immense now. If a man had achieved what she has, it’s unlikely his fame would be as grand. Precisely because Yin Shuangshuang is a woman, achieving this makes it particularly legendary.
The people in Qinglin County live bitterly, treating women as men, and men as beasts, because women are strong labor, holding significant influence at home too.
Though Qinglin County has many issues, women’s status is relatively high. The Emperor thoughtfully chose this location for Yin Shuangshuang to act as County Magistrate.
Though problematic, the Emperor believes that Yin Shuangshuang’s intellect will handle it, and a place that accepts women, willing to accept a female County Magistrate, besides Qinglin County, there is no other.
At Guest Return Restaurant, Xu Huirong stood by the window, watching the discussing common people, his face darkening as he closed the window with a snap, then turned back to sit cold-faced at his place.
Looking at the lavish and delicious food on the table, Xu Huirong had no appetite at all. The muscles at his jaw twitched, he couldn’t help but slam the table, saying coldly, "I underestimated this female County Magistrate!"
"We’ve been holding her off, but she isn’t anxious. We’ve sidelined her, yet she does not rush to regain power. I thought she was soft, but unexpectedly she has made such a move, easily winning over the people’s hearts."
County Magistrate Hu Bingchen drank his wine in one gulp, cold snorting to Xu Huirong: "I told you not to underestimate this female County Magistrate. Someone who could debate fiercely with the learned scholars, leaving aristocratic family scholars speechless, wouldn’t be a soft character.
You insisted she was a woman, even if talented, might not understand governance. Look at it now. We intended to give her a lesson, but instead, we are caught in a dilemma.
Sidelining her for ten days or half a month is passable. We can find excuses to block her from speaking. But if we keep neglecting her, it won’t stand. Eventually, she’ll send a petition, and we’ll be in big trouble.
This Yin Shuangshuang is not like other two County Magistrates without backing, to mold as we wish. If we block the petition, it can’t be sent out.
She is the Emperor’s confidante, highly trusted. It’s said many guards accompanying her are given by the Emperor. If she wants to send a petition, we can’t stop her.
Look at the carriage she’s riding, I’ve never seen such a luxurious carriage in my life, and the horses pulling it are famed, worth a fortune."
County Magistrate Chai Pengfei, watching the anxious Hu Bingchen and Xu Huirong, proposed: "If it’s impossible, why not drag her into trouble, split some money with her. The love for money knows no gender."
"That trick won’t work at all," Xu Huirong said solemnly. "You think this Yin County Magistrate is someone ordinary? Her father was just appointed Imperial Merchant, their family earns wealth daily.
Look at her attire and lifestyle, and she maintains so many guards. Is she someone lacking money? What little profits we can scrape from Qinglin County, she might not even care for.
She is here for political achievements. We local officials are surely her targets for elimination. We and her are destined to be adversaries. Don’t think of reconciliation. Think of how to drive her away instead.
There are many things we cannot let her know. Since she isn’t easy to deal with, if she stays too long, she might catch on to something, and it will be troublesome."
"If ordinary bribery doesn’t work, should we draw her into our business? It’s just as profitable as the Imperial Merchant, she could be tempted," Chai Feipeng suggested cautiously.
"No way!" This time, Xu Huirong and Hu Bingchen said in unison.
Hu Bingchen looked especially displeased at Chai Pengfei: "Not everyone can be bought with money. Have you forgotten last time’s lesson so quickly? The issues from before cost us lots of effort to settle, nearly dragging everyone down.
The background of this Yin County Magistrate is much deeper than the previous one. If we reveal our operations and she refuses to join, we might not be able to handle her. To be safe, we mustn’t let this reach her. You all keep tight-lipped, ensure your subordinates are watched well, and don’t let anything leak."