Tang Dynasty, my wife Wu Zetian

Chapter 296 Concubine Zheng’s Request
With the births of Li Dan and Li Ren, Li Zhi's sons increased to nine, and he had a premonition that the number would increase in the future.

Li Ren was the son of Concubine Zheng. Because he was born a month earlier, he took the position of the eighth son from Li Dan.

After the child was born, he didn't cry or make a fuss, which really scared Concubine Zheng.

Later, after Sun Simiao examined the baby, he found that the baby had no congenital disease, and Concubine Zheng was relieved.

According to convention, Concubine Zheng could have been promoted in rank after giving birth to a prince, but she was already the highest-ranking lady under the empress and could not be promoted any higher.

Li Zhi had no choice but to meet Concubine Zheng's request and transferred her brother Zheng Mingyu to Chang'an to serve as the county lieutenant of Wannian County, and also conferred the title of baron on Zheng Mingyu.

Who would have thought that Zheng Mingyu was depressed after learning about this.

Originally, his family urged him to return to Chang'an as soon as possible, but he deliberately made excuses and refused to go home.

Zheng Mingyu served as a county lieutenant in Fuping County near Chang'an City.

Fuping County is very close to Chang'an, less than a day's journey away. However, Zheng Mingyu rarely goes home and spends all his time focusing on catching thieves.

He once wrote a letter to Di Renjie, asking for advice on how to solve a case. Unfortunately, solving a case is different from studying. Memorizing it by rote is not very helpful.

When the people of Fuping County evaluated the county lieutenant, they mostly praised him.

For example, people praised him for his diligence, modesty, and gentleness, but it was a pity that no one ever praised him for his ability to solve cases.

Zheng Mingyu has a stubborn nature. If he can't do something, he will work day and night and try his best to do it well.

Fortunately, he has a virtuous wife.

Lu Wanjun was not in good health. Before she got married, Mrs. Wang always suspected that she would not be able to take good care of her son.

However, now that she has married into the Zheng family and accompanied Zheng Mingyu to Fuping County to take up his post, she not only takes good care of her husband, but also manages the entire household in an orderly manner.

Seeing that Zheng Mingyu was not good at solving cases, others often advised him not to focus on catching thieves, but to learn how to govern the country.

In their view, Zheng Mingyu was a royal relative and came to Fuping County just to get some experience. He would be promoted sooner or later, so there was no need for him to learn how to catch thieves.

However, Lu Wanjun never advised him. She knew her husband well and supported him silently behind the scenes. She never advised him to pursue fame and fortune.

Whenever Zheng Mingyu went to great lengths to catch a small thief, she would be happy along with her husband.

Then again, Lu Wanjun didn't always indulge her husband. She didn't support Zheng Mingyu when he threw a tantrum and refused to return to Chang'an.

As it was almost mid-December, the couple had dinner together at home that evening.

Lu Wanjun said softly, "There's another letter from home urging you to go back. How long are you going to keep making such a fuss?"

Zheng Mingyu snorted, lowered his head and ate his meal silently.

Lu Wanjun put down her chopsticks, supported her chin with one hand, stared at him with her dark eyes, and suddenly burst out laughing.

Zheng Mingyu said dissatisfiedly: "What are you laughing at?"

Lu Wanjun played with the hair by her ear and chuckled, "I'm just laughing at myself, why are you so anxious?"

"You..." Zheng Mingyu angrily pushed the bowl and chopsticks away and shouted, "I won't eat anymore."

Zheng Mingyu is in his early twenties, while Lu Wanjun is only nineteen. When these two young couples get along, they are more like lovers in love, and flirting is common.

Lu Wanjun smiled at a maid and said, "He doesn't want to eat anymore, so you can take it. It's not my stomach that's hungry anyway."

After saying that, he chuckled again.

Zheng Mingyu angrily said, "Just piss me off! If you piss me off to death, you'll be a widow!"

Lu Wanjun's expression changed immediately. She dropped her smile and said coldly, "If you die, I'll jump into the river myself. Once I'm there, don't expect me to pay any attention to you."

Seeing her cold face, Zheng Mingyu immediately felt weak and whispered, "I'm just in a bad mood, don't take it to heart."

Lu Wanjun said calmly, "Anyway, I married you just to be your punching bag. Whatever, I'm used to it anyway."

Zheng Mingyu smiled and said, "Madam, I was wrong. Please don't be angry."

Lu Wanjun rolled her eyes at him and said, "Stop being so playful with me. Didn't you just want me to be a widow?"

Zheng Mingyu sighed and lowered his head.

Lu Wanjun glanced at him and said, "If you have any grievances, just speak up. I won't laugh at you, so why sulk?"

Zheng Mingyu whispered, "Sometimes, I really hate myself. If I hadn't been born into the Zheng family, I don't know how good it would have been."

Lu Wanjun smiled and said, "If you hadn't been born into the Zheng family, I might not have married you."

Zheng Mingyu suddenly raised his head and stared at her.

"Is this true?"

Seeing the misty glint in his eyes, Lu Wanjun knew that this fool took it seriously, and hurriedly explained, "What I mean is, if you were from a commoner family, how could my family let me marry you?"

Zheng Mingyu sighed and said, "That's true."

Lu Wanjun said softly, "I know you have a noble character and don't want to use your family's influence to get promoted, but nothing in this world is perfect. If you weren't in the Zheng family, you would have other troubles too. Why not let it go?"

Zheng Mingyu raised his head and said, "When I was in Chang'an, I always looked down on those who clung to the powerful. Now that I've entered the officialdom, if I can make a name for myself with my own abilities, they won't have much to say. But what about now?"

"Hey, look! Isn't that Zheng Mingyu from the Zheng family? He used to laugh at others who curry favor with the powerful, but he himself is clearly a idiot who can't solve cases, but he relied on his sister being a concubine to get promoted to the position of Wannian County Lieutenant. How ridiculous! They will definitely say so."

Lu Wanjun said softly, "Some people laugh at you on the surface, but they're actually jealous of you. If you take their words seriously, you'll let them succeed."

Zheng Mingyu said, "I can ignore them, but what about Brother Gao? And Di Renjie, I laughed at him before, and he will definitely laugh at me now."

Lu Wanjun laughed and said, "How could a man like Mr. Gao laugh at you? And let's not even talk about Di Renjie. He's a third-rank Dali Temple official, and he'll be a prime minister sooner or later. Why would he bother with you?"

Zheng Mingyu muttered, "I don't have the face to see them anyway."

Lu Wanjun said to the maid, "Quickly go get some paper and pen."

The maidservant nodded and turned away. Zheng Mingyu asked curiously, "What are you doing with the paper and pen?"

Lu Wanjun smiled and said, "So that you can write a letter of breaking up with them, so that you won't see them again in your life."

Zheng Mingyu hurriedly said, "How can we break off our relationship with them for such a reason? Wouldn't that be even more ridiculous?"

Lu Wanjun smiled and said, "Then what do you want? Tell me and I'll help you come up with an idea."

Zheng Mingyu was silent for a long time, then sighed, "It seems there's nothing we can do. Let them laugh if they want to."

Lu Wanjun asked, "So are we going back?"

Zheng Mingyu nodded and said, "Pack up and return to Chang'an tomorrow. I'll go to the government office to say hello."

The magistrate of Fuping County was named Dugu. He was originally a relative of Empress Dugu of the Sui Dynasty. Unfortunately, the Dugu family declined during the Tang Dynasty.

Magistrate Dugu was more enthusiastic towards Zheng Mingyu, the county lieutenant, than towards the officials of Yongzhou Prefecture.

Normally, he would call Zheng Mingyu "Brother Zheng" all the time. Even though Zheng Mingyu was slow in solving cases, he never urged him.

Now that he heard that Zheng Mingyu was leaving, he seemed even more reluctant to let him go and insisted on inviting him to his home for a meal.

Zheng Mingyu couldn't refuse, so he had to agree.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the two men walked out of the county government office, they saw a commotion outside the government office, with fists and feet flying, and a big man in black was fighting with several other people.

The county yamen runners were actually watching the fun from the side.

The big man in black was unarmed, and there were four people fighting with him, all of whom were holding sticks and were ruthless.

The big man in black had been hit several times and was struggling to hold on.

Zheng Mingyu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly shouted, "Stop it!"

However, the people who were fighting fiercely ignored him. The big man in black wanted to speak several times, but was interrupted by the other party's fierce attack.

Zheng Mingyu was furious.

Since he became the county magistrate of Fuping County, he had never seen such an arrogant person who dared to fight outside the county government office.

"There's a fight going on outside the county government office. What are you just standing there doing?" he shouted at the officers.

Magistrate Dugu was older and more experienced. He could tell at a glance that those men holding sticks were dressed like servants, but they were well-dressed and their moves were swift and decisive.

Anyone who can raise such subordinates is definitely not an ordinary person.

At least in Fuping County, no family could afford such a wealthy slave, so he kept silent.

A team leader walked up to the two men and whispered, "Zheng County Lieutenant, Dugu County Magistrate, these people are from the Zheng Palace. They say they want to capture escaped slaves. We dare not interfere!"

When County Magistrate Dugu heard it was Prince Zheng, he immediately became intimidated and said to Zheng Mingyu, "Brother Zheng, since this is Prince Zheng's family affair, it's better not to get involved."

Zheng Mingyu said, "We can't arrest people on the street, can we? King Zheng is so powerful, can he really go beyond the law? Even if he is a runaway slave, we should be the ones to arrest him!"

County Magistrate Dugu began to weigh the pros and cons in his mind.

He thought that Prince Zheng was no more powerful than Concubine Zheng, and the people in Prince Zheng's mansion were indeed a bit domineering. He immediately ordered the yamen runners, "Hurry up and stop them!"

When the yamen runners saw that the county magistrate and the county lieutenant had spoken, they looked at each other and rushed towards the two fighting parties with sticks in hand.

Hebei has been implementing a new policy on corvee labor. There are no regular or miscellaneous labor services. The yamen runners who originally served in the county government have all been registered as full-time personnel.

In other words, the yamen runners were no longer on duty, but also began to receive salaries.

This is good news for all yamen runners.

The yamen runners in Fuping County all hoped to be retained by the county government, so they were naturally more motivated than usual. They rushed forward and quickly stopped the two sides in the fight.

The leading slave of the Zheng Palace shouted, "The men just said that we are from the Zheng Palace. We are here to arrest this thief and escaped slave. Don't meddle in other people's business!"

Zheng Mingyu shouted, "How dare you! In Fuping County, only our Fuping County Office has the authority to enforce the law!"

The leader of the Hao slaves looked at him coldly: "Who are you?"

A yamen runner shouted, "This is Zheng County Magistrate from our Fuping County!"

The leader of the Hao slaves sneered and said, "County lieutenant, you are such a high official."

Another yamen runner puffed out his chest and said, "Listen carefully, our Zheng County Magistrate is the brother of the current imperial concubine Zheng!"

The leader of the slaves' faces changed drastically. He forced a smile and said, "So you are a descendant of the Zheng family of Xingyang. I apologize for any offense. I hope you will forgive me."

The man in black suddenly said, "Zheng County Magistrate, please take me to Chang'an. I have an important matter to file a complaint with the Dali Temple!"

The leader of the Hao Nu glared at him and said sternly, "You little thief, who can believe your words?"

He turned to Zheng Mingyu and said, "Zheng County Lieutenant, this man was originally a servant in the Zheng Palace. He stole His Royal Highness's agate wine cup. Please help us capture this man. His Royal Highness will reward him handsomely!"

Zheng Mingyu waved his hand and said, "You may leave now. I will interrogate this man myself. If he is indeed a slave thief from Prince Zheng's mansion, I will send him to Prince Zheng's mansion and hand him over to His Royal Highness Prince Zheng for his fate!"

The leader of the slaves said anxiously, "What else is there to investigate? His Royal Highness Prince Zheng's agate wine cup is to be presented to His Majesty. I beg the Zheng County Magistrate to make it easier for you."

Zheng Mingyu glared and said, "If you don't retreat, I will arrest you all!"

The expression of the leader of the Hao slaves changed several times, and he was hesitant for a moment.

Suddenly, a man came running from the street and whispered a few words to him.

After hearing this, the leader of the Hao Nu army left with all his men without saying a word.

……

(End of this chapter)