You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

Chapter 73 Occupational Habits
3:45 AM (11:45 PM)

Undeterred, Jiang Qingyun joined the 1st Temporary City Patrol Team and patrolled the area along Zhengyangmen Outer Street.

Although it was late at night, the roads were brightly lit.

This area, also known as Dashilan, is called the "city that never sleeps" in the southern part of the city.

At least 4% of the shops on the street stayed open all night, and the sons of officials, gentry and nobles from the inner city would rush to the south city before the city gates closed to party all night.

The next morning, after the inner city gates opened, he returned to his own mansion in the inner city to sleep soundly.

……

Jiang Qingyun rode his horse along the wide street, listening to the endless laughter and chatter on both sides, and occasionally encountering drunken diners and lovers, moving from place to place in small groups.

Changing venues is a major feature of nightlife.

It's common for someone to visit three or four venues in one night.

"Someone is coming."

"The humble position is here."

“Starting tomorrow, tell all the shopkeepers on this street that they need to pay a fixed night patrol fee to the Military Affairs Office every month. The fee is 30 coins per foot and 300 coins per ten feet, payable at the beginning of the month.”

"In addition, verbally inform them that from this day forward, they need not pay any taxes to Daxing and Wanping counties. This money should also be handed over to the Military Affairs Office."

"In addition, the constables of Daxing and Wanping counties were verbally informed that from this day forward, if they wish to enter the southern city for official business, they must report to the Military Affairs Office in advance. Failure to report is illegal, and the patrol team will detain them if they encounter such a person."

"I humble my duty and obey my orders."

……

Yin Shi.

Jiang Qingyun suddenly turned his head.

Are you two hungry?

“Hungry, I’ve been hungry for ages,” Zhou Cang blurted out.

"I'm hungry too," Jiang Bei nodded repeatedly.

Are the brothers hungry?

The patrol team dared not utter a word.

Jiang Qingyun raised his voice: "Tell me, are you hungry right now?"

"Hungry~"

"Alright, this is on me for the brothers' supper tonight. Let's go to that stall over there."

"Thank you, sir."

The soldiers beamed and quickly took over a row of stalls along the roadside.

……

Jiang Qingyun took out a silver ingot, drew his sword and chopped it into small pieces, then tossed them to the roadside stall owners.

"You can only bring out as many bowls as you can buy. Make sure you know the exact number. If you bring out too many, I will not make up the difference."

"Thank you, sir."

The stall owner was busy running around, beaming with joy.

Jiang Qingyun only mentioned that he wouldn't make up for the extra money if he paid too much, but didn't mention what would happen if he paid too little, because he felt that ordinary people who dared to cheat officials out of their money were probably quite rare in this era.

If you encounter it, it can be considered an auspicious sign.

……

Since ancient times, soldiers have always been big eaters, eating bowl after bowl, and enjoying everything from donkey meat sandwiches and fried dough rings to wontons, noodles, and noodle fish.

Eat dry wipe.

Jiang Qingyun issued another order:
"Starting today, each patrol team will be allocated 100 cash for a nightly snack. This cash must not be distributed to individuals; the team leader is responsible for spending it. If the cash is not spent, the team leader will be replaced."

"The number of patrol teams has doubled."

"Thank you, sir."

The soldiers cheered again.

The First Patrol Team was different from the other patrol teams; it had no miscellaneous soldiers, only mounted soldiers, because the area they patrolled was the Great Fence, where no civilians could pass by.

The two sides in this dispute are not simple individuals.

It was common here for the nephew of a vice minister to beat up the son of a deputy commander.

The rules set by Jiang Qingyun:

"The first step is to require both sides to stop fighting and lay down their weapons. If they do not comply, they may be disarmed by force, and injury may be permitted."

"The second step is to return to the Military Affairs Office."

"The third step is to record it and have it signed and sealed."

If you want to take the path of a ruthless official, you can't be afraid of offending people. No matter who your father is, in the eyes of Censor Jiang, your father is not even a human being.

The clerk in charge of the case had someone grab the young master's hand, which was covered in red ink, and force him to sign it.

The next day, even the Vice Minister's father came, but there was nothing he could do.

……

At 4:45 AM, it was already light.

The southern part of the city is beginning to recover, and the hardworking people are going out of their way to make a living.

Feeling tired, Jiang Qingyun returned to the mansion to rest. "Young Master, the Old Madam and the young mistresses haven't gotten up yet. Which mistress should I call?"

"No need. I'll go to Wan Chun's room. You can boil some hot water and bring it over with the wooden tub later. I want to take a bath."

"Yes."

The old woman hurried off to the kitchen to get busy.

Jiang Qingyun tiptoed across the courtyard and happened to run into a hairy creature.

A serene calico cat sat on the stone bench, staring wide-eyed.

Flashing~
"Shh~"

Jiang Qingyun quickly gestured for silence, and the two of them, one in front and one behind, walked together towards Wanchun's room.

……

With a creak, the door to the side room was pushed open.

In late spring, the door to the room was always left unlocked, allowing the young master to come and go as he pleased. This was truly beyond reproach.

The maid sleeping on the outside of the canopy bed saw that her young master had arrived and quickly got up and bowed. Jiang Qingyun noticed that the young maid was quite young, wearing a small dress, her budding beauty just beginning to emerge.

In late spring, she put on a robe and walked down barefoot.

"Sir, what brings you here? Judging from your appearance, you haven't slept all night, have you?"

Jiang Qingyun habitually began to use official jargon.

"There's nothing we can do. There are many conspirators hiding within my Great Qing, and they are always thinking about overthrowing it. I don't even want to imagine what chaos would ensue if the capital were to be without me."

Wan Chun didn't believe it in her heart, but her expression showed that she did. A woman from Qingyin's class would never let a man lose face.

"I'll just rest here for a bit and catch up on some sleep."

"Alright, I'll make the bed."

……

The old woman arrived carrying a wooden bucket.

A hot bath can relieve fatigue and promote relaxation.

Jiang Qingyun stretched out his arms naturally, resting them on the edge of the wooden tub. He leaned against the tub, soaking in the hot water, and almost fell asleep.

But~
As always, Wan Chun was mischievous. Normally, she would just wash and scrub, but she had to stir things up.

He pretended to be nonchalant, but every wipe he made was on the right spot.

Jiang Qingyun was, after all, a human being. He was only 18, so how could he remain indifferent? When he reluctantly opened his eyes from his drowsiness, he saw the vibrant spring scenery.

……

"Oh, young master, here, here~ Ouch!"

Women who come from Qingyin's small class have an incurable habit: they want to flirt with you as soon as you meet them.

Even if you're on your deathbed and about to die, she'll still flirt with you.

This could be a professional habit.

Whether you're tired, whether you want to or not, whether you live or die, is none of my business.

Just flirt! Just flirt!
……

Jiang Qingyun was speechless. She stood up abruptly, splashing water in the process.

"Dry it."

Halfway through wiping, Jiang Qingyun suddenly grabbed his hair and pressed it down there.

The maid blushed slightly and silently stepped aside.

At this time~
Jiang Qingyun's mind went completely blank, but his thoughts drifted to Liu Zhangtai at the villa in the western suburbs. During the confiscation of their property, Dorgon's daughter's half-ounce robe was left for Abbess Liu to continue her worldly practice; it would be quite suitable.

The calico cat sat on the windowsill, its paws curled up and its eyes slightly closed.

People do things, but cats don't watch.

Humans are not as good as cats.

……

Suddenly, footsteps sounded in the courtyard.

Someone was shouting in the courtyard outside in a high-pitched voice:

"Our family is from the palace."

"There is an imperial edict summoning Jiang Qingyun, the Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, to the palace immediately to attend the morning court session. The Emperor and all the ministers and officials are waiting."

"Imperial Censor Jiang, where are you? What are you doing?"

"Hurry up."

Jiang Qingyun dressed in his official robes in a disheveled state, walked out of the house, and felt very uncomfortable. Going against the current was bad for his health, and he was furious.

The eunuch delivering the imperial decree was so anxious he was stamping his feet.

"Oh dear, my Imperial Censor Jiang, please mount your horse quickly! The Emperor and all the ministers are waiting for you in the Golden Palace. This is an extremely urgent matter, and we dare not delay it even a little."

"go!"

Fortunately, Jiang Qingyun was a good rider, and he started riding as soon as they set off.

(End of this chapter)