Transmigrated into a female county magistrate during a famine, leading her country to prosperity

It was nearly noon, and the sun was high in the sky.

Several horse-drawn carriages and prison carts slowly drove out of the post station, raising clouds of dust and leaving trails of gray behind them.

Three figures stood in the shade of the trees by the roadside.

Yu Zhengqing carefully clutched the iron box in his arms, looking ahead with a sense of melancholy: "Shen Zheng, we have to go."

Beside the carriage ahead, Zhuang Zhiyun and Yu Nanshu embraced each other reluctantly. Seeing this, Shen Zheng's expression grew even more somber: "Please take good care of yourselves on the journey, Aunt. Have the postmen carefully check your food and lodging, and double-check the locks on the prison cart. It won't be long before we...see each other again."

“I know, but…” Yu Zhengqing looked away and turned to her: “Can’t you really lend me the other two walkie-talkies as well?”

Shen Zheng's expression froze, and the sadness of parting vanished instantly: "What did you say?"

"Is this even human language?" Yu Shizhang spoke Shen Zheng's mind: "There were only five in total, and you were given three, and you still complain that it's not enough? How come I never realized before that you were such a greedy and selfish person!"

Yu Zhengqing, having been scolded, suddenly laughed, tracing their faces with his eyes, and said, "That's more like it. I'm just returning to the capital, not heading to the battlefield. Why are you all looking so gloomy? Besides..."

He patted the iron box in his arms, his tone deliberately light: "With these three treasures, no matter which mountain bandits come, I will make sure they don't leave alive!"

Lighthearted words couldn't dispel the sadness of parting, but Shen Zheng still smiled in agreement: "Okay. Then remember to check the battery level often, so it doesn't run out of power when you need it."

"I know, don't worry." Yu Zhengqing forced a smile and took the lead in walking towards the carriage.

The wind stirs up dust and brings the scent of rice.

Every time he took a step, a scene unique to Liuyang Prefecture would appear before his eyes.

When he first arrived in Liuyang Prefecture, the people were curious and distrustful.

When I first met Shen Zheng, she was reserved and apprehensive.

He was excited and trembling when he first saw high-yield rice.

As he sent Shen Zheng to the capital, he felt a mixture of joy and worry...

Those scenes had already left a deep imprint on his mind, something he would cherish in the future.

"Let's go!"

Filled with memories, he and Zhuang Zhiyun boarded the carriage to the capital.

Their carriages were facing east, while Liuyang Prefecture was to the west.

Shen Zheng and Yu Shizhang stood by the car, while Yu Nanshu and Madam Bo were already sobbing uncontrollably.

The crisp sound of a whip shattered the midday tranquility, startling the birds in the treetops, which fluttered their wings and flew away into the distance.

The wheels rolled over the dust, leaving ruts. Yu Zhengqing and Zhuang Zhiyun squeezed by the small window, waving their hands to express their reluctance to leave those who remained.

"Go back, go back quickly," Yu Zhengqing said.

"Goodbye," Shen Zheng said.

"Father, Mother, wait for us to come back!" Yu Nanshu said.

"Let's go, it's time to go back," Yu Shizhang said.

"So that's the former prefect of Liuyang Prefecture, Lord Yu Zhengqing!" a sudden voice said.

Ignoring him, Shen Zheng and the others walked toward the carriage.

"Lord Shen, are you heading back to Liuyang Prefecture?" the voice asked again. "As it happens, I'm also going to Liuyang Prefecture, so we'll be traveling the same way..."

"Get away!" Yu Nanshu, still heartbroken, shouted without turning her head, "Shameless scoundrel, stay away from my sister Shen!"

“Shameless scoundrel?” Xin Ji paused, pointed at himself, and asked his companion, “Do I look shameless?”

The person traveling with him neither nodded nor shook his head, but simply looked ahead and said, "Young Master, Lord Shen and the others have boarded the carriage."

Xin Ji immediately turned his head and saw that the female guard's whip had already fallen, the carriage wheels were spinning "clunk clunk," and dust was rising, gradually merging with the dust drifting from the east.

"Young master, shall we ride off to catch up?" one of the companions asked.

"Chase her?" Xin Ji pulled out his empty money pouch from his pocket and squeezed it hard. "I don't have a single coin on me right now. What am I supposed to use to chase her? My face?"

"take......"

"What are you taking? Hurry up and leave! Go back to Fuzhou and get the silver!"

......

On the way back to the prefectural city, Shen Zheng kept observing the crops along the roadside.

Most of the fields were planted with rice, and judging from the growth of the rice, it would be ready for harvest in half a month at most.

It's harvest time again.

Thinking about the next arrangements for Liuyang Prefecture, Shen Zheng's expression grew increasingly worried.

Although there are not many students from farming families, it would be best to schedule the re-examination before the autumn harvest to avoid affecting students who need to help their families harvest and thresh rice.

Thinking of this, Shen Zheng looked at Yu Shizhang, who was pretending to be asleep, and asked directly, "Lord, do you know what kind of person Xin Shunyun is?"

"Xin Shunyun?" Yu Shizhang slowly opened his eyes, his gaze clear: "You're still thinking about Xin Ji? He's just a slippery little devil, not worth your trouble."

Shen Zheng shook her head, then nodded after a moment of silence: "It has something to do with Xin Ji. I'm worried... Xin Shunyun won't allow the re-examination to be held in the manor."

"Don't worry, Xin Shunyun understands the situation." Yu Shizhang lifted the carriage curtain, took a light sniff of the rice fragrance mixed with the earthy smell, and smiled, "If he really dares to oppose you, I will personally go to Fuzhou, 'invite' him to sit down, and have a good talk with him."

Shen Zheng laughed upon hearing this.

It feels really good to have someone to rely on.

The sun gradually moved westward.

The carriage bumped its way back to the prefectural city. As soon as Shen Zheng entered, a yamen runner greeted her: "Sir, the constables from Tong'an County have arrived and are currently with Lord Xu."

"A constable?" Shen Zheng frowned slightly, asking as she walked, "Has something happened in Tong'an County?"

The constable pondered for a moment and shook his head: "I don't know, but that constable looked normal, so... it doesn't seem like anything happened in Tongan County."

Upon hearing this, Shen Zheng's expression relaxed, and she strode towards the Bureau of Experiences.

Before she even stepped into the yamen, she heard Xiao Yuan's voice: "Lord Xu, please go ahead with your work. I'll just find a place outside the yamen and wait for you to return."

“No need.” Xu Yunyan’s voice was softer than Xiao Yuan’s, but still clear: “You can’t affect me. The master should be back soon. Let’s wait a little longer.”

"Hmm..." Xiao Yuan's voice sounded slightly hesitant.

Shen Zheng guessed that he wanted to leave not because he was afraid of interfering with Xu Yunyan's work, but simply because he was afraid to be in the same room with Xu Yunyan.

"Knock knock—" Shen Zheng slightly bent her knuckles and knocked on the door of the Experience Department.

Xiao Yuan immediately looked over, and upon recognizing Shen Zheng, greeted her with delight: "My lord is back!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Yunyan immediately put down his pen and stood up.

Seeing their expressions, Shen Zheng knew that nothing had happened in the county, and she was completely relieved.

After she went inside and sat down, Xiao Yuan explained his purpose: "Sir, the ship has arrived!"

Has the ship arrived?

Upon hearing this, Shen Zheng suddenly realized for a moment, "Have the county soldiers arrived?"

She's been so busy with government affairs lately that she almost missed this opportunity.

"When did you arrive?" she asked again.

"Reporting to you, sir, they arrived this morning!" Xiao Yuan recalled the scene from early morning, his eyes filled with admiration: "Sir, although there were many of them, they were very organized. When Brother Zhao and I arrived at the dock, they had already packed their luggage and were lined up on the deck waiting to disembark..."