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

Seeing her silence, Yu Zhengqing realized that he had said something too harsh, so he kindly added:

"But fortunately, Luo Zhijing and his wife had already met when he went to Beijing for the exam, and they fell in love with each other. His wife was very lucky that the man she chose happened to be the knife in her father's hand, but her concubine sisters were not so lucky."

Shen Zheng's heart seemed to be tightly grasped by a pair of big hands. That lady was lucky, but some marriages were the sorrow of the times.

She thought of Luo Zhijing's father-in-law's "horse buying" and murmured, "The court is intricately connected."

Yu Zhengqing pursed his lips. This was something that everyone knew.

Shen Zheng asked again: "How is your friend now?"

She would not be so stupid as to ask Yu Zhengqing why he did not stand up for his friend and why he did not report and expose Luo Zhijing's father-in-law on the spot.

Even though he was the son of the Earl of Yongning, the corruption in the imperial examinations was not limited to Luo Zhijing alone, and one small move could affect the entire body.

The assistant minister dared to do it and let Yu Zhengqing find out the truth, which means he had a backup plan and a way out.

But he is still just a minister now, and the Earl of Yongning must have had some influence on this.

I can’t bring you down in one go, but I can make sure you never get what you dream of in this life, and make you think about it day and night, as if a thousand ants are gnawing at your heart.

This is murder and heartbreak.

Yu Zhengqing laughed again when he talked about that friend. "He is doing well now. He has also survived in the local area for more than ten years. I often communicate with him. I estimate that he will be able to return to Beijing in a few years."

What he didn't say was that he didn't have the ability to fight against the injustice in the court at that time, but he did one thing - during the long wait of several years, he continued to prove himself for his friend, letting others know his extraordinary qualities and allowing him to have an official position.

As for why he didn’t just stay at home and arrange a place for his friend?

Because just now they said, one carrot one pit, if he does that, what is the difference between him and Luo Zhijing's father-in-law? It ruined the original intention.

Some smart people have already seen through the trick and sighed that the man was lucky to have met his lifelong friend, otherwise he would have lived his life in obscurity.

"This senior is very capable." Shen Zheng said, "There are not many officials who can make a name for themselves in the local government."

Yu Zhengqing laughed even harder, "Are you praising him or yourself?"

Shen Zheng also smiled, and said with self-awareness: "That senior is amazing, and I am just lucky. And I also rely on you, don't I?"

"You, you..." Yu Zhengqing disagreed with her. Luck is part of it. If a person has bad character and a narrow mind, he cannot do what she did.

Even if he did, he would kill it.

Shen Zheng thought about Luo Zhijing and started to have gossip thoughts again.

"You said that Lord Luo's reputation in the capital has been ruined. What's going on?"

"I knew you wanted to ask this." Yu Zhengqing's smile became more and more obvious. "I was only a young man at that time, full of youth and vigor. I used my father's connections to find out the reason. Of course, I was very angry, but if I went to fight..."

"Of course I can't win." He said knowingly, "The position has been taken away. If I had the ability, I could certainly get it back for my friend, but at that time I just woke up and was filled with resentment."

Shen Zheng looked at Yu Zhengqing. He spoke easily at this moment, but what about then?

The young man, full of vigor and vitality, saw the unique dark side of officialdom when he first entered it. How painful and hesitant he must have felt in his heart.

But people are always like this. No matter how difficult or dangerous the situation is, as long as you grit your teeth and get through it, when you look back, it's just four words.

Nothing more.

Yes, that's all.

It’s not that he has the courage and strength to face it now, but that life has to go on and he has to reconcile with himself.

Some things you always think about only add to your troubles.

Shen Zheng asked: "So you ruined Lord Luo's reputation?"

Yu Zhengqing nodded, "It's funny to say that, although that man has many concubines, he doesn't have a single son."

Shen Zheng was surprised: "No bastard sons at all?"

She didn't think it was a big deal, but Luo Zhijing's father-in-law probably felt that he had committed a great sin.

Yu Zhengqing was amused by her expression: "There is not even one, so I told Luo Zhijing to eat the whole family."

Eat up the whole family! This is too cruel.

Yu Zhengqing added: "It may be a bit blind to say this, because later I found out that Luo Zhijing didn't even know his father-in-law before the results were announced. It was his father-in-law who chose him and took the initiative to pave the way for him, but I still chose to target Luo Zhijing."

Shen Zheng didn't think he was blind. She said softly, "He didn't know, but he was the beneficiary. He had obtained something that didn't originally belong to him. And you also said that you didn't have the ability to challenge Lord Luo's father-in-law at that time. You have done a good job."

Yu Zhengqing looked at Shen Zheng. Some words, coming from her mouth, always made people feel comfortable.

He said: "Yes, but since then, I have made up my mind..."

At this point he paused and continued, "I have known Luo Zhijing for these years, and I have found that he has no major problems. After all, he has experienced hardships, and he works diligently. He is barely okay. After all, he passed the imperial examination by himself, but he did not make the top 12."

In fact, those who could pass the imperial examination were considered to be outstanding people, and Luo Zhijing at that time had already stepped half a foot into the officialdom, and his father-in-law paved the way for him.

"Do you think he knew about what happened back then?" Shen Zheng asked this because she felt that Luo Zhijing's attitude towards Yu Zhengqing was strange.

"If he wants to understand, he will know. If he doesn't want to admit it, he will deceive himself even if he knows."

Shen Zheng nodded upon hearing this. This made sense. Yu Zhengqing should not have caused much trouble in Shangjing at that time, because he was only targeting a Jinshi and did not reveal the inside story.

But as the person involved, if Luo Zhijing investigates carefully, he will definitely understand why Yu Zhengqing targets him.

Just as Yu Zhengqing said, whoever can pass the imperial examination is not a child of destiny, the hope of the whole village, no, the whole county and the whole prefecture. Who would be willing to admit that his ranking was obtained unclearly?

Who is willing to admit that he is not as skilled as others and can only rely on being favored by girls and relying on his father-in-law for help?

From the beginning to the end, the only apparent victim was Yu Zhengqing's friend.

"Your friend is really amazing. He has a clear mind and never gets discouraged when faced with injustice. Now he is still making great contributions in the local area. If there is a chance in the future, I would like to meet him." Shen Zheng praised again.

Yu Zhengqing just turned his mouth down when he heard Shen Zheng say, "You are also very capable and loyal. I am lucky to be your friend."

Yu Zhengqing's eyes suddenly lit up.

Such flattery!

It was shot so...accurate!

"It's just average. He can't be said to be that lucky." Yu Zhengqing said with a forced smile.

......

In the next few days, Shen Zheng and Yu Zhengqing received several more officials from the government office.

Some of them came from far away, exhausted. Yu Zhengqing said that they had at least traveled for several days in the carriage, which showed their sincerity.

But some officials in the prefecture are different. They are close to the border and only came in the past two days because they are waiting for news about Luo Zhijing, the one who stood out.

When everyone arrives, they will first praise her, saying things like she is a heroine, a beautiful woman, seeing is believing, and... His Majesty is wise and has a keen eye.

Shen Zheng felt that they might have received some news.

However, to her surprise, some officials brought a lot of local specialties in addition to silver and money, and said frankly that they were for her and Tongan County.

There is everything from food, cloth, to jewelry and ornaments.