Chapter 64 Conspiracy (Seeking Recommendations and Bookmarks)

  Kong Ruo Lan, who was hurrying back to her boudoir with quick small steps, startled a gust of fragrance and scared Ling Er, who was waiting outside the courtyard, stiffening for a while before rushing after Miss.

  Only the mighty official in the courtyard was left, staring at the already disappeared figure, muttering to himself: "Could it be that my brothers were too impatient? But I only held her small hand and didn't do anything else!"

  He was still dazed, but he didn't know that in an era where etiquette and chastity were emphasized, holding hands between unmarried men and women was already a great rudeness. If not for the fact that Pang Gang was already Kong Rulan's fiancé, the Kong family could have accused him of offending a virtuous woman on this count alone.

  Like a frightened little rabbit, Kong Ruo Lan ran back to her boudoir and threw herself onto the bed. Her two jade-like hands covered her rosy face, and even now she still felt like her heart was racing like a drumbeat.

  "This Pang Gang is really too rude, how can he so lightly hold someone's hand like that? And I'm also to blame, why didn't I scold him immediately? But the feeling of being held by his hand really isn't bad at all, his palm is so big and warm!" Kong Rulan thought with a mix of self-reproach and a surge of sweetness.

  The more she thought about it, the more chaotic her mind became, and the more annoyed she felt. In the end, she simply buried her entire face in the quilt, and the soft silk duvet covered up her lovely face completely, even Ling'er didn't notice when she came in.

  "Miss, miss!" Ling'er's crisp voice seemed to come from afar, faintly floating into Kong Rulan's ears.

  "Hmm! Ling'er, what's the matter?" Kong Rulan replied with her face buried in the quilt, not even lifting her head, and her voice was somewhat muffled due to being covered by the quilt.

  "Miss, just now your husband... he didn't do anything, did he?"

  "Miss, miss, didn't he take advantage of you just now?" Looking at the miss who was still silent on the bed, Ling'er couldn't help but feel a little scared, and immediately shouted loudly: "Miss, did he really dare to take advantage of you? I'll go settle accounts with him right away."

  After finishing speaking, Kong Rulan's personal maid twisted her waist and turned around to find that shameless young master to settle the account.

  Kong Rulan was alarmed at the sight, and without waiting to feel embarrassed, she hastily sat up and stopped the loyal maid Ling'er, "Ling'er, stop, it's not what you think, he...he didn't do anything to me." By this time, her face, which had gradually returned to calm, was again filled with blushes.

  "What's wrong with you?" Ling'er asked, puzzled, circling around her mistress before teasingly saying: "But miss just now ran faster than a rabbit, and her little face was redder than a monkey's butt!"

  Kong Ruo Lan, who was being teased by Ling Er, blushed with anger and shouted: "Ah, Ling Er, you're asking for death, how dare you say that to me!"

  Kong Ruo Lan didn't have time to feel ashamed or indignant, and she pounced on Ling'er. The two of them started making a ruckus in the boudoir...

  Girls who are in love always have a bit of worry in their happiness, pain and joy coexist, only they themselves can understand the taste.

  At this moment, in the back house of Yangzhou Prefecture Government Office, Sun Zhili was slowly tasting tea in a small room, Sun Xiyi stood behind Sun Zhili to serve him, and Yangzhou Prefect Gu Shou sat beside them as company.

  Sun Zili gently brushed aside the tea leaves floating in his cup and said slowly, "Huairén, it's been over seven years since we last parted. You, a top scholar of the Chongzhen era, have become the Magistrate of Yangzhou. Seven years have passed, and everything has changed; it's truly sigh-worthy."

  On the side, Gu Shou said with reverence, "The student was able to sit in this position entirely thanks to the teacher's promotion, and the student never dared or forgot."

  "Alas!" Sun Zili waved his hand in a show of humility, "I've never taught you anything, merely made some minor corrections to your exam papers. If you didn't have real talent and learning, I wouldn't be able to help you even if I wanted to."

  Gu Shousu said, "Talented people are as numerous as fish in the river, so what does being a student amount to? One should know that a thousand-mile horse is often found, but a Bole who can appreciate it is not. If it weren't for the kindness and wisdom of our teacher, how could students like us have passed with high honors? The kindness of our teacher is something we will never dare forget in this lifetime."

  "Hmm!" Sun Zili stroked his chin, satisfied. Before his retirement, he had worked in the Ministry of Rites for nearly thirty years, rising from a minor official to Minister of Rites, with five terms as chief examiner. Countless candidates had passed through his hands, and it could be said that his protégés were everywhere. The man standing before him now, Governor Gu of Yangzhou, was one of them.

  Sun Zili chatted for a while, then said: "Huairén, this time I was fortunate enough to receive the emperor's favor and retire to my hometown. Seeing that Yangzhou is being governed in an orderly manner, I am very delighted."

  Gu Shouqian humbly said: "Yangzhou has such a prosperous scene, all thanks to the emperor's great blessing and the teachings of our former teacher."

  When the time was ripe, Sun Zhiyi, who was serving beside him, secretly made a gesture to Sun Xiyi. After understanding, Sun Xiyi deliberately let out a long sigh and said: "Lord Gu, although Yangzhou is well-governed by you, with people living in peace and contentment, there are still some lawless individuals who bully the good people, you can't be off guard."

  "Oh! Is this really happening?" Gu Shou asked in surprise: "Younger brother, please tell me the details."

  Sun Xi Yi responded with a sound, then recounted the insults he received today, distorting and exaggerating them. Only then did he say "righteously": "This Pang Gang was originally a lowly military household from Shandong, yet now he dares to lead his troops into our Jiangsu territory with such arrogance! Not only that, but in Yangzhou City, he is bullying men and cheating women. If we don't punish him according to the law, where is justice? Where is heavenly principle?"

  "As soon as he heard this, his face turned sour and he said with some difficulty: 'Younger brother, these people not only belong to the Shandong region but are also garrison troops. The governor wants to control them but can't, even if they want to control them, it would have to be done by dispatching soldiers from nearby Wei Suo to drive them out. The governor is willing but unable.'"

  Sun Xi Yi hastily said: "Governor, how can you be like this? You should know that keeping the place peaceful is your responsibility. Now someone is being so arrogant in Yangzhou City, and you won't take care of it?"

  "You little beast, shut your mouth!" Sun Zili, who was standing beside his son, hurriedly stopped him. As the former Minister of Rites, Sun Zili was well aware that Gu Shou, although being the prefect of Yangzhou, had limited authority over the garrison troops, especially those from other regions. Only the Jinshan Garrison stationed outside the city walls of Yangzhou could respond to this situation in a legitimate manner, as their duty was to protect the safety of Yangzhou. However, these garrison troops did not fall under Gu Shou's jurisdiction as a local administrative official, so his embarrassed expression couldn't be seen as an attempt to shirk responsibility.

  Looking at Sun Xiyi retreating with a resentful expression, Gu Shou thought for a moment and said to Sun Zili: "Master, if not, I'll have the student send an official document to Jinshan Wei Qianhu, asking him to enter the city and drive out those soldiers who came from Shandong Province. What do you think?"

  Sun Zili let out a cold snort: "According to the laws of our dynasty, provincial troops are not allowed to cross borders without orders from the Ministry of War. Those who violate this will be severely punished. Now these people not only crossed borders and caused trouble, but also bullied good people, their crimes are heinous, I think they should be charged with treason and made an example of."

  "That's right, he should be charged with treason and his whole family should be executed!" Sun Xiyi touched his still sore face and shouted loudly. Just thinking about the humiliation that Pang Gang had brought upon himself made him want to chop him into pieces.

  As soon as Sun Zili spoke, Lian Gu Shou was startled, his master Ye was too ruthless, wasn't he? Someone just beat up his son and now he wants their life, and also wants to exterminate their entire clan, isn't this going too far?

  Seeing Gu Shou's hesitant eyes, Sun Zili let out a cold hum and continued to put pressure on him: "Huairén, you and I have been master and disciple for seven years, and I cherish this relationship very much."

  Our old friend Gu heard this and understood that his teacher's words clearly meant that if he didn't listen to him, then their relationship as master and disciple would end there.

  Gu Shou took a deep breath, quickly weighing the pros and cons in his mind, before gritting his teeth and saying: "Alright, have the students immediately notify Jinshan Wei Suo and Bingma Si Yaomen to rush to Kong Fu and eliminate the rebels."

  As soon as Gu Shou spoke, Sun Shi and his son exchanged a glance and smiled. Sun Zhi nodded in satisfaction: "Hmph! This is the kind of demeanor a parent official should have. As for those rebels, we can't show any leniency."

  Gu Shou heard the words and smiled bitterly, hoping that after killing these troops from Shandong, the guards of Qingzhou would not come to find trouble for him. He was about to open his mouth to shout for someone when a yamen runner rushed in, stumbling and staggering, his voice also changing due to fear, "Sir, it's bad! The Japanese pirates have arrived at the foot of Yangzhou City!"