Chapter 36: The Dispute Between the Governor and the Censor

  Yan Jian reached out and pulled Chun up, and only then did Xuan Zhen turn around to ask the girl, "What's your relationship with those two women, why do you want to save them?"

  The young girl smiled sweetly and said, "If I see injustice on the road, can't I take action?"

  This woman has a bit of flavor, not like an ordinary lady, Yin Zhen smiled and said: "You don't look like a Jiangnan woman, but more like a Northwestern woman. No, that's not right either, you should be a combination of the best qualities of both Jiangnan and Northwestern women."

  "You're quite original in your praise." The young girl smiled and stamped her left foot, "Northwestern women are not like me, they don't bind their feet, read 'The Four Books for Women', or learn needlework." She said as she turned around to glance at Xu Xingke and the servants who had already been subdued. Then, with a charming smile, she faced Yi Zhen, "Today was fun, thank you, Young Master Fourteenth." After that, she jumped onto the carriage.

  Does she know me? Yu Zhen was taken aback, hastily lowering her head to glance at the adornments on herself, there wasn't anything that would reveal her identity, how did she recognize me? She raised her head wanting to ask, but the carriage had already started moving, he asked loudly: "How come I don't know you?"

  "Haven't we just met?" The departing carriage left behind a string of silvery laughter.

  This woman was eccentric and strange, yet rebellious to the extreme. Just by looking at her carriage, one could tell that she wasn't from a humble background. She knew her own identity, but didn't put on any airs. In Yi Zhen's heart, a sense of familiarity suddenly arose, and he couldn't help but gaze wistfully at the departing carriage. Hai Feng sneaked up with a sly smile, "Master, do you want someone to follow her?"

  After hesitating for a moment, Yin Zhen said, "No need to, she's not the kind of woman who stays in the boudoir all day. If fate allows it, we'll meet again naturally."

  Seeing Xue Xingke being brought over, Yin Zhen suddenly lost interest and waved his hand: "Let him go."

  Xu Xingke still looked incredulous, and Yin Zhen scolded him in a bad temper: "Go back and tell Xu Jun that the 14th master is now stationed in Shanghai, and let him take care of his family for me."

  Xu Jun is the youngest son of Xu Qianxue, and Yin Zhen has known him since he was a child. As soon as he heard that the young man in front of him was the Fourteenth Master, Xu Xingke was startled and thought to himself: "Damn it! I didn't check the almanac before going out, and now I'm really unlucky!" He knew he would definitely be punished when he returned home. Hurriedly, he knelt down and kowtowed to pay his respects.

  "Never mind about the greeting, how much money do these two owe you?" asked Yongzheng lazily.

  Xu Xingke's back was all sweaty as he nodded and said, "It's not much, running into the 14th Master is a blessing for both of them, how could I dare ask for money?"

  Rong Zhen didn't take it to heart. "Forget it, just for these two small coins, the 14th master's personal favor is worthless, how much is it worth? Name a price."

  Xu Xingke clenched his teeth and said with great difficulty: "Tell Young Master Fourteenth that it's fifty taels."

  "Give it to him." Yi Zhēn waved his hand, and then beckoned to the little boy, "Not bad, you have a bit of courage, at such a young age you already know how to protect your mother. How about it, are you willing to follow Fourteenth Master?"

  That little kid looked at Yongzheng with a pair of shiny eyes, hesitated for a while before kneeling down and saying: "I'm willing to, but what about my mother?"

  Ying Zhen smiled and said, "This is easy, there are many errands at the 14th Master's mansion, I'll have your mother go with you."

  In the south of Shanghai, in Changqing Garden, Zhang Yuanlong, a man in his forties, was lounging on a rocking chair. Several young maids were gathered around him, massaging his legs and shoulders. He was a native of Shanghai and one of the wealthiest merchants in the city. He owned more than sixty merchant ships that frequently traded between East and West, as well as in the Kwantung region. Along the Jiangsu-Zhejiang coast, he also had numerous foreign trade firms, making him one of the largest maritime traders in the entire Jiangsu-Zhejiang coastal area.

  This year, after taking office as the Governor of Liangjiang, he felt that his opportunity had arrived. His cousin Zhang Lingtao was the son-in-law of Gali, and relying on this relationship, he made a move and gave Gali 100,000 taels of silver. Gali also knew how to be grateful and used naval warships to help him transport rice to Ningbo. This year, during the maritime trade season, he made a lot of money just by reselling rice in the South China Sea, and naturally, Gali's share was not forgotten.

  Through this cooperation, he also opened his eyes to the fact that the true way to get rich quickly is for officials and merchants to join hands. He knew that opportunities are hard to come by, so he decided to take advantage of Gao's position as Governor-General of Liangjiang to build another hundred large sea-going ships, rapidly expanding his power and influence.

  The reason for releasing the news ahead of time is to show off their strength and intimidate other fleets in Shanghai, making some small ships attach themselves to them.

  Zhang Yuanlong was just looking forward to his own future in his heart when the second housekeeper rushed in, "Master, Third Miss is back."

  Jiao Jiao? Isn't she in Jiangning? It's not even the end of the year yet, how did she come back so soon? Zhang Yuanlong stood up and chased away a few maids, just as he walked out of the gate, the young girl who had just parted ways with Yin Zhen ran into the courtyard, "Dad, I'm back."

  This girl is named Zhang Mengjiao, the youngest daughter of Zhang Yuanlong and also his most beloved one. She has been clever and lively since childhood, but also willful and rebellious. Since she was a child, she resisted the education of Jiangnan's big family's girls, such as piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, which she didn't even look at, but she was particularly interested in classics, history and poetry collections.

  The relationship between parents and children is also about fate, although it's said that the palm and back of the hand are all flesh, but there's still a distinction. Zhang Yuanlong has been particularly doting on this youngest daughter since she was young, so he spoiled her and gave in to her every whim, not only hiring the best tutors for her but also frequently taking her on trips abroad. Anyway, they didn't lack money, and the Zhang family's daughters wouldn't have to worry about finding a husband. Growing up in such an unrestrained environment, Zhang Mengjiao developed a lively and active personality, with broad horizons and clever decision-making skills.

  Seeing Zhang Mengjiao running over in a disorderly manner, Zhang Yuanlong hastily asked: "Why did you come back so early? Is everything okay?"

  "Dad, what's wrong with your daughter?" Zhang Mengjiao wrinkled her nose slightly and said coquettishly: "I miss you, how come, Dad is not happy?"

  "Delighted, why not delighted, come on in." Zhang Yuanlong smiled and let his daughter into the house, while waving his hand to chase all the servants away. He knew that his daughter had returned so early, there must be something going on.

  As soon as he entered the house, Zhang Yuanlong scolded, "You came back without even sending a message, this is such a long way, you, it's all because your father spoiled you since childhood."

  Zhang Mengjiao smiled and said, "I know, I won't dare next time, I know Daddy loves Jiao-jiao."

  "You..." Zhang Yuanlong smiled and pointed at his daughter, but was helpless.

  "Dad, I've got news. The Governor of Jiangsu, Yu Zhun, and the Provincial Judge, Yi Si'gong, have both been dismissed." Zhang Mengjiao said as she poured two cups of tea and sat down before continuing: "The new Governor of Jiangsu is Zhang Bohang, and the Provincial Judge is temporarily replaced by Chen Pengnian, the former Magistrate of Suzhou. The Emperor has sent the Minister of Revenue, Zhang Pengxu, and the Imperial Academy Scholar, Ga Mintu, to investigate the case of Yi Si'gong's embezzlement in Jiangnan."

  After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Yuanlong finally spoke up, "This is good news, it means the Emperor holds General Ka in high regard. What's wrong with that?"

  "It seems so on the surface, but it's not really like that." Zhang Mengjiao picked up her teacup and slowly took a sip. "Although Yu Zhun and Yi Si Gong were dismissed, but Governor Ke's impeached Suzhou Prefect Chen Pengnian was not only not demoted but promoted instead, temporarily taking the post of Provincial Governor. This is quite thought-provoking. The new Jiangsu Governor Zhang Bohang is also a high-ranking Han official, and he's not simple at all."

  ;