Chapter 106: Unaware of His Wife’s Beauty (4000 words, combined chapters)
“The top ten on this year’s Red Beauty List, our Wu Kingdom actually has three people making the list!”
“Isn’t that right? Our princess is even ranked fourth.”
“Qin Qingwan from Qin Mansion and Xu Xue’nuo from Xu Mansion aren’t just on the Red Beauty List; they’re also in the top ten on the Azurecloud List.”
“Ah, isn’t it about time for Xu Xue’nuo and Qin Qingwan to be around sixteen or seventeen? They’ve grown into such elegant young ladies. They must be the new generation of Immortal Maidens.”
“Our Wu Kingdom can finally hold our heads high. Last time on the Red Beauty List, we only had Empress Xiao make the cut, and she was ranked over ninety.”
“If only the princess’s mother were still around, then…”
“Shh… be careful what you say…”
“Speaking of which, who exactly is Shixin?”
“I don’t know. Never heard of her.”
“If no one’s heard of her, that means she must have just come of age recently. Otherwise, her name would have appeared on last year’s Red Beauty List.”
“The abbot of Leiming Temple took on a female disciple? Isn’t Leiming Temple all men?”
“Who knows? What’s stranger is that Shixin is at the top of the Red Beauty List. Just how beautiful is this nun?”
“The top ten on the Red Beauty List shouldn’t really be ranked anyway. That’s everyone’s consensus. After all, each of them is unreasonably beautiful. It’s just a matter of preference for certain types. But with a nun taking first place, does that mean subconsciously I think she’s the most beautiful in the world???”
“Impossible! Even though I haven’t met the princess, I support the princess!”
“Me too!”
“By the way, Xu Ming must be regretting his decision big time, right?”
“Exactly! The princess not only made the top ten but ranked fourth. I can’t even imagine how beautiful she must be.”
“No wonder they call him ‘Foolish One.’ Even the Lord of Tianji City couldn’t stand it.”
“Hahaha, our prince consort-to-be must be regretting it so much right now.”
At a wine shop by the foot of a mountain, travelers, martial artists, and passersby gathered under the awning drinking tea, eating, and chatting.
The Red Beauty List released four days ago had already been printed by various bookshops and was now in everyone’s hands, becoming a popular topic after meals.
As people discussed the list, a man appeared for the first time.
That was Xu Ming.
With the widespread circulation of Xu Ming’s Refusal to Marry Memorandum and Wu Yanhan’s ranking fourth on the Red Beauty List, Xu Ming earned a new title—”Unaware of His Wife’s Beauty.”
At one table in the wine shop, Xu Pengda was trying hard not to laugh out loud.
Xu Ming looked awkward.
Everywhere he went, Xu Ming could hear comments about how “unaware of his wife’s beauty” he was.
Xu Fangling offered a piece of beef to Xu Ming with a smile, saying, “Zhuangyuan Lang, it might not be too late to regret your decision.”
Xu Ming shook his head. “There’s no need for that. I still don’t want to get married so early.”
Fangling nodded. “It’s good to look around more. You might discover that our princess of the Wu Dynasty is still the best.”
Xu Ming remained silent.
After spending a few days together, Xu Ming found that Chancellor Fangling, despite appearing stern, often said some flirtatious things.
Not bad.
At least Xu Ming didn’t feel like he didn’t know how to interact with him.
Speaking of which, Xu Ming was indeed quite curious about that female monk.
According to Xu Ming’s understanding, there were no nuns in this world.
This meant that all Buddhist disciples were male, and this Buddhist disciple named Shixin was the first female disciple.
What kind of female monk could be beautiful enough to rank first in the world?
If it weren’t for the great distance to the Western Regions, Xu Ming felt that he should definitely go see her sometime within the next year.
After eating their fill, Fangling returned to the carriage with his family, while Xu Ming and Xu Pengda continued driving the horses.
“Fifth Brother, why does Xiao Bai seem unhappy?” Xu Pengda glanced up at the carriage roof.
On the roof sat the Heavenly Black Goose, its long neck drooping, looking rather melancholy.
“Oh,” Xu Ming said indifferently. “She’s upset because she didn’t make the Red Beauty List. This goose has no sense of shame. She hasn’t even transformed yet. How could a goose possibly make the Red Beauty List? Maybe the Animal Kingdom’s Red Beauty List would be more appropriate.”
“Goose Goose!!”
Upon hearing Xu Ming’s sarcasm, the Heavenly Black Goose, Xiao Bai, immediately became angry and flew down to peck at Xu Ming.
Xu Ming: “Stop it, stop it. I’m driving the carriage.”
Half an hour later, the Heavenly Black Goose grumpily flew back to the roof, continuing to sulk.
After another five or six days of travel, Xu Ming and his group finally arrived at Baihe County.
“They’re here! They’re here!”
“That’s the mark of the imperial carriage, right?”
“It seems so!”
“Hurry! Play the suona, beat the drums, start dancing.”
Outside the county town of Baihe County, people were already waiting to welcome Xu Ming and his group. More accurately, they were welcoming the new county magistrate and the retired Chancellor Fang.
When they saw the symbol representing an “official of the court” on Xu Ming’s carriage, the sound of gongs and suonas filled the air, and many women danced in welcome.
This reminded Xu Ming of a movie he had watched in his previous life with the phrase “Taking Office in Goose City.”
“Wow, it’s so lively.”
Chancellor Fang lifted the curtain of the carriage, sitting beside Xu Ming, his tone laced with mockery.
“Old Master Fang, is this a custom of Baihe County?” Xu Ming asked politely.
Old Master Fang’s face showed a hint of displeasure: “I lived in Baihe County for nearly twenty years and governed for three years, but I never saw such a custom.”
Xu Ming pulled back the reins, gradually stopping the carriage. Xu Ming and others got out, and the county magistrate of Baihe County, along with several powerful local clans, approached.
“Greetings, Old Master Fang, greetings, Magistrate Xu.”
County Magistrate Liang Wen smiled and bowed respectfully, followed by the local clans behind him.
One doesn’t hit a smiling face. Fang Ling stepped forward, bowing in return: “An old man like me, how could I deserve personal reception from Magistrate Liang, let alone such grandeur? I don’t recall seeing this when I took office.”
Liang Wen chuckled: “Indeed, there wasn’t, but with your retirement, Old Master Fang, and the arrival of the new county magistrate, we certainly need to make it more ceremonious.”
Liang Wen turned aside: “Please, all of you, come inside. We’ve prepared a feast to wash away your travel dust.”
“I won’t join. I need to clean up the ancestral home. Young friends, I bid farewell.” Fang Ling smirked coldly, bidding farewell to Xu Ming and Xu Pengda, then drove off in his carriage, clearly giving no face to Magistrate Liang or the local powerful clans.
Of course, even though Fang Ling was a commoner, no one dared to do anything to him because he didn’t show respect. They still had to maintain a polite demeanor.
At the famous Yinhai Tower in Baihe County, the county magistrate introduced many dishes to Xu Pengda, acquainting him with the local powerful clans, essentially the local tyrants.
These powerful clans appeared respectful, but in reality, if you did anything to harm the interests of the local powerful families, even as a county magistrate, it would be difficult to take action.
In the government office, you’d be a lone official, with no one paying attention to you, as your subordinates had likely been bribed.
This welcoming banquet was relatively harmonious, with everyone seemingly getting along well.
Especially when they learned that the person accompanying Xu Pengda was Xu Ming, who almost became the prince consort, everyone showed even greater respect.
Although everyone in the entire Wu Kingdom knew that Xu Ming was “blind,” no one dared to look down on him.
He was still the person most favored by Emperor Wu. After returning, he could still marry the princess, and their future children would surely become the future rulers of the Wu Kingdom.
Therefore, compared to Xu Pengda, more people wanted to flatter Xu Ming.
However, Xu Ming maintained a polite distance from everyone.
After returning to the county government office, Magistrate Liang handed over work to Xu Pengda.
This included the finances of the county office, the grain in the granary, and various cases in Baihe Town that needed to be transferred.
And just when Xu Pengda arrived in Baihe County the next day.
Early in the morning, Xu Pengda was checking the accounts when suddenly, outside the county office, there came a series of drum beats.
Xu Ming, who was accompanying Xu Pengda, raised his head, and Magistrate Liang also looked embarrassed: “Someone! Go outside and see who’s beating the drum!”
“Magistrate Liang, no need. I’ll go check personally.” Xu Pengda stood up.
“This is a trivial matter, Magistrate Xu. It’s probably some stubborn commoners who have some trifling matters to bother you with upon your arrival. I’ll handle it for you.” Liang Wen’s forehead was breaking out in cold sweat.
“Even trifling matters are important.” Xu Ming put down his teacup and stood up. “Big Brother, let’s go check.”
“Alright.” Xu Pengda and Xu Ming walked toward the mansion gate, leaving Magistrate Liang to follow behind.
“Adults! The adults are here!”
“Adult Xu, please help us, sir!”
“Please help us, sir!”
Seeing the unfamiliar face wearing official robes emerge, everyone outside the mansion knelt down, continuously knocking their heads on the ground.
Looking at their appearances, Xu Pengda felt heartbroken instantly.
Xu Ming furrowed his brows.
There were twenty-six people kneeling outside the government office.
If it were just a few people, it would be manageable.
But with so many people, it indicated that in Baihe County, many had suffered significant grievances, hoping the new county magistrate would seek justice for them.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Liang’s expression grew increasingly awkward.
“Everyone, please rise and come inside to speak.” Xu Pengda stepped forward, helping the person at the front up. “I will certainly seek justice for all of you!”
“Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!”
The woman who had just been helped up knelt again.
Xu Pengda tightly clenched his lips. Through Xu Pengda’s eyes, Xu Ming knew that this was the moment he truly became the county magistrate.
Inside the county office, Xu Pengda questioned each person individually.
Xu Ming listened from the side. Initially, Magistrate Liang tried to intervene, but eventually, Xu Ming pulled him aside to drink tea, leaving Xu Pengda to handle everything alone.
By noon, everyone gradually dispersed.
Before leaving, each person gave Xu Pengda a deep bow.
“Huang County Chief, what is going on here!!!”
After everyone left, Xu Pengda picked up the handwritten notes he had recorded and threw them heavily onto Huang County Chief.
“Please calm down, sir!” Huang County Chief quickly knelt down.
“Calm down? How can I calm down?”
Xu Pengda was so angry that his two hundred pounds of fat was trembling.
“Aunt Niu’s five acres of good farmland were seized by the Zhang family!
“Sun Dequan’s daughter was publicly humiliated by a wealthy family, and when her brother sought justice, he was killed on the street!
“The Xiao family even wouldn’t let go of the redemption money of a courtesan from a brothel!
“Scholar Wang ‘disrespected’ the Li family, resulting in his legs being broken!
“That’s a scholar!!! How dare the Li family!!!
“Recently, there have always been missing boys and girls in White River Town, and you haven’t solved the case yet!
“How dare you suppress these cases!!!”
Xu Pengda banged on the table repeatedly, scaring Huang County Chief into shaking uncontrollably.
Beside him, Magistrate Liang blushed.
Although Xu Pengda was scolding the county chief, in reality, he was criticizing Magistrate Liang.
If it weren’t for giving Magistrate Liang a bit of face, Xu Pengda would have pointed his finger and asked, “How exactly did you manage to be the county magistrate?”
Huang County Chief swallowed his saliva and looked at Magistrate Liang beside him.
Magistrate Liang sighed, “Huang County Chief, you may step down first. Let me explain properly to the two Xu gentlemen.”
“Yes, sir, Magistrate Liang, I shall take my leave.”
Upon hearing Magistrate Liang’s words, Huang County Chief hurriedly got up and retreated.
In the main hall of the county office, only the three of Xu Ming remained, and the atmosphere was very tense.
“Magistrate Liang, although this is your county’s matter, I have no authority to interfere, but as an official of the court, I share the emperor’s burdens. Does Magistrate Liang need to give an explanation?” Xu Ming directly asked Magistrate Liang.
Xu Pengda couldn’t break faces with him, so Xu Ming asked on behalf of Xu Pengda.
“Alas, both gentlemen, please calm down.” Magistrate Liang looked completely innocent. “This is truly beyond my control.”
“Beyond your control?” Xu Pengda could no longer suppress his anger. “What a convenient excuse, Magistrate Liang!”
Magistrate Liang smiled faintly without getting angry: “Gentleman Xu, three years ago when I came to Baihe County, I was just like Gentleman Xu, full of enthusiasm.
“But Gentleman Xu…
“Baihe County is no longer Baihe County of the Wu Kingdom.”
Xu Pengda laughed sarcastically: “If it’s not the Wu Kingdom’s Baihe County, whose is it?!”
Magistrate Liang raised his head and spoke frankly: “It belongs to the powerful clans.”
…
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[Originally intended to release in two chapters, but I couldn’t figure out how to split them, so the 4000-word chapter is combined. If everything goes smoothly, I’ll only take two days off this month, and update at least 4000 words daily.
Indeed, the pace feels a bit slow, but what can I say? If the pace speeds up, it might become unstable. Sigh… When I have some free time, I’ll write more.]