Chapter 158: Imperial Envoy
Su Yaoguang and the others were brought to the neighboring county, and without even time to catch their breath, they immediately started the action of rescuing epidemic patients.
The local county office selected a spacious and clean house for them to house the patients, and also delivered large amounts of supplies and medicinal herbs, letting them focus entirely on saving people without worrying about anything else.
Su Yaoguang knew the neighboring county was larger than theirs, but she had never seen it herself. Only now upon entering did she realize it was not only larger than their county town but also more prosperous. Under such abundant supply conditions, they still let so many patients die from the epidemic, showing how much they treated lives as worthless at the beginning. Now, to put on a show for the so-called Imperial Envoy, they played a splendid and righteous hand.
“Boss Su, come over here.” The secretary walked in with officers and said to Su Yaoguang.
Su Yaoguang handed the work in her hands to Zhang Pandi beside her, followed the secretary into the inner room, and asked, “Secretary, I’m busy here, and there are many patients. Be careful not to catch the sickly aura.”
These cowardly people who feared death would certainly not set foot here if they had no business, and whenever these people appeared, it was surely bad news. She really didn’t want to waste time dealing with them.
“Boss Su, this matter has truly been hard work for you.” The secretary said, signaling to the person beside him with his eyes.
The two officers beside each held a large box, and at this moment they simultaneously opened the large boxes, revealing neatly arranged silver ingots inside.
Those plump and hefty silver ingots, each ten taels of silver.
She glanced roughly; such a large box held thirty per layer, about two layers, that was sixty. Each ten taels of silver, sixty was six hundred taels of silver. There were two such boxes, so totaling one thousand two hundred taels of silver.
She had made big money before, but seeing so many silver ingots still gave her a dazzling feeling.
“Is the County Magistrate letting us procure ourselves?” Su Yaoguang said with a face full of distress, “But we’re strangers here, really don’t know how to procure. How about just like this period, directly send medicinal herbs and supplies over, so we can save some trouble too.”
Su Yaoguang pretended not to understand the county office’s intention.
“Boss Su looks quite smart, how come you’re confused at this time?” The secretary said with a smile, “This is the hardship fee from the lord, saying you’ve been troubled this period.”
“That won’t do, we haven’t done anything.” Su Yaoguang said, “Please trouble the secretary to take the silver back and convey to the lord on my behalf that we common people can serve the Imperial Court, that’s our honor, how could we take silver?”
“Boss Su, just take it. The lord won’t let you work for nothing. Our lord loves the people like his children, values talent. For people like Boss Su who are kind-hearted and righteous, he cherishes them the most. If you ever want to come live in our county town, just come find our lord, he’ll handle everything properly for you.”
“Thank you, secretary. But this is too much, we don’t deserve it.”
“Take it, it’s what you should get. Boss Su is so smart, you should know what to say and what not to say, right? If anything spreads outside, Boss Su knows what to do?”
“The lord personally came to invite us here for the people’s illness, the lord cherishes the people, worries for the country and people, is a good official who loves the people like his children.”
“Boss Su is indeed a smart person. Then you continue with your work, I won’t disturb you, I’ll take my leave first.” The secretary completed the County Magistrate’s instructions and left satisfied.
After the secretary left, Zhang Zhaodi and the others came in to ask what happened.
When Zhang Zhaodi saw the silver ingots on the table, her eyes were full of light. She picked up a silver ingot, bit it with her mouth, and said excitedly, “It’s real silver. How can there be so much?”
Wang Huanzhi said, “This is hush money.”
“Hush money?” Zhang Pandi asked puzzled, “What does that mean?”
“The Imperial Envoy is traveling in disguise, probably already appeared in the county town. None of us know who the Imperial Envoy is; the only thing we can do is control people’s words, not let the Imperial Envoy hear what he shouldn’t. Other people have to live here, dare not offend the County Magistrate, a little scare and they’ll behave. We’re different, we’re from the neighboring city, and we’ve participated in rescuing the people. One word from us is worth ten from the people. Therefore, as long as the County Magistrate controls our mouths, lets us not say improper things to strangers, his political achievement can also muddle through.”
“Isn’t this deceiving people?”
“If he wasn’t to deceive people, he wouldn’t have invited us here at all. He’d rather kill and burn those patients, or drive them to our side, let the illness spread, turn our county town into a living hell, to highlight his outstanding political achievement.” Zhou Wangshu said, “If such officials continue in office, the ones suffering are the people. This is a good opportunity to bring him down.”
“Shall we not meddle in trivial matters?” Zhang Pandi said, “We’re civilians, he’s an official, how can civilians bring down an official? Besides, who knows if that Imperial Envoy is the same kind as him?”
If the Imperial Envoy was the same as him, a corrupt official, they couldn’t deal with him at all. They had already done their utmost to save people; as long as the people survived, they shouldn’t get involved in other matters.
“Second aunt, don’t worry, we don’t need to do anything, the Imperial Envoy will know.” Su Yaoguang said, “There are so many patients here. If you were the Imperial Envoy, wouldn’t you personally check the epidemic situation?”
“He’s the Imperial Envoy, a high official, probably won’t take the risk?”
“If he’s a good official, he’ll personally take the risk. If he’s not, cowardly and afraid of death, he won’t set foot here. Therefore, whether he enters here is the standard for whether the ‘truth’ will surface. As long as he comes in, he’ll know the truth.” Su Yaoguang said, “So, this matter isn’t that troublesome, no need for everyone to worry. Everyone just do what they should, the other people have their own judgments in their hearts.”
“Yaoguang is right.” Wang Huanzhi said, “The choice for this matter is in the Imperial Envoy’s hands; whatever truth the Imperial Envoy wants to know, the higher-ups will know that truth.”
The women didn’t understand these things, only knew to quickly take good care of the patients’ bodies, and once they recovered, they could go home too. Otherwise, always drifting outside, their hearts wouldn’t be settled.
Most importantly, the county magistrate here wasn’t a good person. Associating with such a person was like bargaining with a tiger.
“Excuse me, is there a doctor here?” A mild voice sounded, “Our master has a bit of a cough, not sure if he’s caught that epidemic that’s spreading quickly lately. Trouble the doctor to examine our master.”
Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu exchanged a glance.
