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

That’s where the problem lies!

Shen Zheng was absolutely certain: "But ever since my father found me, he has never hidden my origins from the neighbors."

Yu Shizhang nodded secretly.

Before his first visit to Tongan County, he had sent people to inquire about Shen Zheng's background. The result was that all the old residents in the western suburbs knew that Shen Zheng was the old scholar's adopted daughter, not his biological daughter.

“So…” Yu Shizhang’s thoughts became clearer: “If the Meng family goes to the capital to search, they will definitely find out that the single scholar in the western suburbs has picked up an orphan girl.”

Shen Zheng nodded: "In other words, if I were really Meng Er, I might have been found and taken back then."

But the truth is that "Shen Zheng" was raised by the old scholar until she was sixteen, and then struggled in the suburbs of Beijing for six years, but never saw the Meng family.

This is a problem, and a big problem.

For a moment, the three fell silent, lost in thought.

At this point, three possibilities lay before them.

“The first possibility is that when the Meng family found the Shen family back then, they discovered that you were not Meng Er and left disappointed,” Yu Shizhang said.

“The second possibility is that the person in charge of finding relatives back then didn’t investigate seriously and deliberately concealed the information,” Xu Yunyan said.

“The third possibility is that something happened to the Meng family back then, and after finding half of the jade pendant, they were unable to go to the capital to find Meng Er,” Shen Zheng said.

After he finished speaking, the three of them stared at each other for a long time.

Shen Zheng summarized: "The first possibility is the most likely, and I hope that is the case; the third possibility is the least likely; the second possibility can be combined with the first and third possibilities."

Yu Shizhang and Xu Yunyan nodded in agreement.

“But…” Yu Shizhang looked at Shen Zheng by the candlelight: “Then how do you explain the similarity between your eyebrows and eyes?”

Shen Zheng touched the corner of her eye: "There are tens of thousands of people in the world, and it is not surprising that there are countless people who look alike."

Yu Shizhang was immediately persuaded.

He never wanted Shen Zheng to acknowledge her relatives, and he naturally preferred the guess that "Shen Zheng is not Meng Er".

But this raises another question for him: "Then why are Meng Huailin and Meng Zhu so certain that you are Meng Er?"

Are they anxious to find their relatives?

Or were you deceived?

Or perhaps... some kind of conspiracy?

Shen Zheng couldn't figure this out for the time being either.

But at this moment, she was even clearer about her thoughts: "I don't want to acknowledge my relatives, whether I am Meng Er or not, I don't want to right now."

Although she and "Shen Zheng" are already inseparable, she always remembers where she came from, knows what she wants, and has already chosen her family for this lifetime.

How could she possibly accept complete strangers as her closest relatives based solely on blood ties?

She really can't do that.

Yu Shizhang breathed a huge sigh of relief.

He wanted to laugh, but felt it was somewhat inappropriate, so he could only twitch his lips and say, "But we still need to send someone to investigate the Meng family to see if they can produce any evidence, or whether they were acting under someone's orders..."

Xu Yunyan nodded in agreement: "I will send someone to investigate tomorrow."

"Coo-coo—coo-coo—"

The frogs by the pond started croaking again.

Shen Zheng looked at the shimmering surface of the pool and suddenly slapped her forehead: "Oh no!"

Xu Yunyan and Yu Shizhang looked over at the same time.

She looked regretful: "Didn't Xiao Yuan say the day before yesterday that the batch of little frogs we brought back had grown into big, edible frogs?"

I was planning to have a meal before heading back to the prefectural city, but I got so busy I completely forgot...

With a heavy heart full of regret, Shen Zheng returned to the main courtyard under the escort of the two men.

Hua Duo had been waiting at the courtyard gate for quite some time.

......

The rooster crows at dawn.

As soon as Shen Zheng stepped out of the room, she was startled by the two "door gods" under the corridor.

"Teacher!" Cui Jinyin, who had been dozing off, immediately perked up when she saw her come out: "You're awake!"

Yu Nanshu also jumped up in a flash.

Looking at their dark circles that had sunk to their cheekbones, Shen Zheng asked in confusion, "Why aren't you sleeping inside? What are you doing squatting here?"

Cui Jinyin rubbed her face haphazardly: "We'll accompany you to the yamen!"

She felt that as her teacher's proudest, most outstanding, and only disciple, it was her duty to clear away all obstacles in her teacher's life, such as... the troublesome Meng family members.

Cui Jinyin nodded in agreement: "Sister Shen, let us accompany you to the government office. We will not disturb you while you are on your business!"

Their eyes were brighter than the glass lamp in Hua Duo's hand.

Shen Zheng couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat.

What did she say earlier?

The family you choose is the best.

"Go back to your room and sleep!" She grabbed one of them with each hand, trying to pull them towards the side room.

The two of them seemed to be glued to the ground, remaining completely still.

“We’re not sleepy!” Cui Jinyin said. “Teacher, please let us go with you. We can continue to sleep after we get to the government office. Besides…”

Her eyes lit up, and she came up with a plan: "Besides, didn't you say you were going to take us to the prefectural school today? If we go with you, we won't have to run back and forth!"

Shen Zheng paused.

I have to say, this girl's brain is getting sharper and sharper.

"Okay." Shen Zheng patted their heads. "You guys convinced me. And... thank you."

Cui Jinyin secretly pouted.

......

The news of Shen Zheng being "recognized as a relative" has already reached the government office.

The officials in the government office discussed it in secret.

Someone said, "This family must be imposters, trying to ride on Lord Shen's coattails!"

Someone chimed in, "That's for sure. When Lord Shen went to the capital before, didn't he receive His Majesty's favor and have his family members enter officialdom through his influence? In my opinion, this family is just trying to take a shortcut!"

Others disagreed: "I feel they shouldn't be impersonating anyone, right? Impersonating the family members of an official of the imperial court is a serious crime punishable by exile... Are these people tired of living?"

"You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub! What wouldn't you dare to do in the face of power and wealth?"

"No, no, that's too risky!"

"But... I heard that family doesn't seem to be short of money?"

"this......"

For a time, opinions varied, until the clock struck midnight and dusk broke, and a carriage stopped in front of the government office.

"Is Lord Shen at the yamen?" the driver asked in a strong voice, looking at the yamen gate.

The gatekeeper had also heard about the "family reunion" incident and became extra cautious upon hearing it: "Who are you?"

Could it be that family who have followed us to the government office?

So, should he stop him or not?

Just as the gatekeeper was hesitating, the driver jumped off the carriage, took out a token from his pocket, and held it up, saying, "Wan Guang from the Ministry of Justice has come to deliver a letter. Please let me know!"

"The Ministry of Justice?!"

The doorman was a little intimidated upon hearing those two words.

The cold light reflected from the token spurred him to step down the stone steps: "Please come into the yamen, sir, I will go and inform you."

Wan Guang put away his token and took two steps toward the gate of the government office. Then he remembered the instructions of the Vice Minister and could only bite the bullet and say to the gatekeeper, "Um... don't touch the carriage, and don't touch the books on it."

The doorman hesitated for a moment, then immediately nodded in agreement.

People from the Ministry of Justice... they all have their quirks, he knows that!