Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

It was late at night. Under the porch of the Gaoyang County government's backyard, the glow of lanterns swayed in the night breeze, stretching Zhang Jingwei's tall figure to appear longer and shorter. He leaned against the doorframe, his brow furrowed, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the door, making a dull "thump, thump" sound.

"Why haven't you come back yet..." he whispered to himself, his voice filled with unconcealed anxiety. The chill of the autumn night seeped through his thin shirt, and he couldn't help but pull his sleeves together. The gong for the first watch had long since struck, and the silent streets were filled only with the scattered barking of dogs.

Zhang Liu stood nearby, his hands in his pockets, also looking worried. "Yeah, it's already the first watch."

Wang Ergou stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Master, how about I take a few brothers from the yamen and go look for them?"

Just as Zhang Jingwei was about to nod, Zhang Liu suddenly narrowed his eyes and pointed at a distant street corner. "There's a light! It's a lantern... Hmm? It looks like... a sedan chair?"

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the spot. They saw a small, blue cloth sedan chair, carried by four sturdy bearers, swaying around the corner. A faint, blurred image of the character "Yan" (Yan) could be seen on a lantern hanging in front of the sedan. The sedan moved slowly and steadily, heading towards the back door of the county government office.

Zhang Jingwei felt relieved, but his doubts only intensified. He stood up straight, adjusted his clothes, and watched the sedan chair come to a steady stop at the stone steps in front of the door.

The lead sedan bearer, a burly man with a businessman's characteristically courteous smile, bowed to Zhang Jingwei and said, "Good night, Master Zhang. I'm a waiter from Yanyu Pavilion. Your Madam and this young lady were just enjoying some hot springs in our inn. It's getting late, and the roads are difficult to navigate. It's curfew, too, and we're afraid we might disturb the patrol officers. Our shopkeeper has specifically instructed you to bring your Madam and young lady back safely."

"Yanyu Pavilion?" Zhang Jingwei was unfamiliar with the name, but upon hearing his wife was going to bathe and seeing her return safely, his frayed nerves finally relaxed. He nodded, his tone softening. "Oh, that's so thoughtful. Thank you for your hard work. Sixth Uncle, give some money to those hard-working guys."

Zhang Liu responded and was about to turn around to get the money.

The lead sedan bearer waved his hands repeatedly, his smile deepening, yet with a hint of imperviousness. "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it! Sir Zhang, you're too polite. No need for a reward! It's our honor to escort the lady back home." He changed the subject, pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket, and respectfully handed it to Zhang Jingwei with both hands. "It's just... this is the bill for your honorable inn. Please... settle it."

Zhang Jingwei was slightly startled, and subconsciously took the bill. In the light of the porch lantern, he unfolded it and took a look -

The bill listed items such as "Special-grade double bells", "New nail polish", "Damage to the box (a set of door panels, a celadon vase, two pots of orchids)", etc., and the last line in red ink had the total written on it: sixty strings of cash!

"Sixty strings of cash?!" Zhang Jingwei's voice rose a few notches unconsciously. Even though he was the lord of a county, he was shocked by the amount. This was almost half a year's salary for him! How could a bathhouse, plus some massage and manicures, be so expensive? Not to mention the "damage" later...

At that moment, the curtain of the sedan chair was lifted, and Huangfu Ling, supported by Douya, stepped down with her head bowed. Her hair was a little loose, and her face looked unusually pale under the lantern. She looked evasive, not daring to look directly at Zhang Jingwei. Douya shrank her neck, wanting to hide in the shadows.

Huangfu Ling walked up to Zhang Jingwei, twisting her fingers, her voice as soft as a mosquito's, filled with unprecedented cowardice and guilt: "Husband... I... I was wrong, I hit someone... I broke something..."

Zhang Jingwei instantly understood the meaning of the word "damaged" on the bill. He stepped forward, eagerly grasped Huangfu Ling's shoulders, and looked her over carefully. "Ah? Hitting someone? Breaking things is a small matter! Are you injured? Did the people there give you any trouble?" His sharp eyes swept over Huangfu Ling's body, and only after confirming that she had no obvious injuries did he feel slightly relieved.

Then, his sharp gaze shot towards the quail-like Bean Sprouts beside him, and his voice suddenly became stern: "Xiao Cai'er! How do you take care of the lady?!"

Douya was so frightened that her whole body trembled, and she cried in defense: "It was...it was just a small misunderstanding..."

"Husband, don't blame her," Huangfu Ling quickly grabbed Zhang Jingwei's sleeve, raised her head, and pleaded with tears in her eyes, "It's all my fault..."

Zhang Jingwei gently patted the back of Huangfu Ling's hand, his voice softening. "It's alright, it's good that he's alright. It's good that he's alright..." He turned to Zhang Liu and ordered, "Uncle Liu, take this clerk to the accounting office to collect the money. Sixty strings of cash, payable as is."

"Yes, young master." Zhang Liu responded respectfully, his face unable to hide the pain, but he still made a "please" gesture to the waiter, "Young man, please follow me."

A relieved smile appeared on the clerk's face, and he bowed deeply to Zhang Jingwei and Huangfu Ling again: "Thank you, sir! Thank you, madam! I'll take my leave!" Then he quickly followed Zhang Liu and disappeared into the shadow of the corridor leading to the accounting office.

……

The dining room was filled with the aroma of food. Huangfu Ling sat beside Zhang Jingwei, sipping from a bowl of hot soup. Her cheeks flushed in the candlelight, partly from warmth and partly from lingering embarrassment. Finally, in a halting, fading voice, she recounted the earth-shattering "misunderstanding" that had occurred at Yanyu Pavilion tonight.

When she talked about how she kicked the "male technician" with a strange voice, broke the door, knocked over the vase, and was finally "identified" by Douya, Zhang Jingwei slapped her thigh, laughed so hard that tears came out.

Huangfu Ling was embarrassed and annoyed by his laughter. She put down her soup bowl and punched his shoulder with her fist: "You're still laughing! You're still laughing! I'm so embarrassed! And you're still laughing at me!"

Zhang Jingwei dodged her pink fist while picking up the wine glass and took a sip, explaining with understanding in his eyes: "This person is called the Mute Girl, a personal guard of the Shi family. She is not really mute, but has a peculiar voice. To avoid attracting criticism, the Shi family simply announced that she is a mute female guard. I didn't expect... hahaha... to fall into your hands!" As he said that, he couldn't help laughing.

Huangfu Ling was completely dumbfounded. Thinking about how she had knocked the Shi family's confidant to the ground and even strangled him to examine his body... This grudge... She sighed and covered her face: "It's over, it's over..."

"Alright, alright. Today is Lingmei's birthday. Don't overthink it." Zhang Jingwei finally stopped laughing, put his arm around her shoulders, patted her gently, and softened his tone. "I'll handle the Shi family affairs. It was all just a misunderstanding. As for you, you've been tossing and turning all night, scared and frightened. You need to eat something good to calm your nerves."

Huangfu Ling's stomach growled immediately after he said that. She put her hands down and looked at the table full of dishes with sparkling eyes. She said with a bit of grievance, "Just now at the street corner, before the carriage even stopped, I smelled the delicious aroma and it really got me started!"

"Then eat quickly!" Zhang Jingwei smiled and picked up a piece of food for her with his chopsticks. Then he shouted mysteriously towards the kitchen: "Ding ding ding! Bring on the main course!"

Liang Dahai trotted over, carrying a large, sizzling, steaming iron plate, which he carefully placed in the center of the table. On it lay a thick, fragrant steak, seared to a scorching perfection, drizzled with a thick, fragrant sauce, and adorned with verdant vegetables. The oil danced on the sizzling iron plate, making an enticing sizzling sound, and the aroma instantly overwhelmed all the other dishes.

"Sizzling... uh... sizzling hind leg meat!" Zhang Jingwei announced proudly, picking up a specially made knife and fork. "This is a new way I've come up with to eat it. Come try it! I guarantee you've never had it before!"

Huangfu Ling, Sun Yaolang, Jiuer, and Douya were all curiously watching this novel thing and the way to eat it. Jiuer picked up the knife and fork and gestured awkwardly: "It's both a fork and a knife, how do I use them? Is this better than chopsticks?"

"Easy!" Zhang Jingwei demonstrated. "Hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right. Like this, use both knife and fork to cut off a small piece." He expertly cut off a piece of meat, picked it up with the fork, and brought it to Huangfu Ling's mouth. "Here! Ling'er, try it!"

Huangfu Ling took his hand and bit the small piece of meat into her mouth. Instantly, her eyes lit up! The meat was unexpectedly tender and soft, almost melting in her mouth. The rich meaty aroma mixed with the salty, fresh and slightly sweet taste of the special sauce exploded in her mouth. It was juicy and delicious! She nodded repeatedly and said incoherently, "Mmm! Delicious! So delicious!"

Sun Yaolang also curiously followed suit and cut a small piece. After tasting it carefully, a look of surprise appeared on his face: "Hmm? This meat... the taste is really unique. Jingwei, is this pork? How can pork be cooked so tender?" She was a little bit unbelievable. Pork usually has a tough texture, but this meat is unusually tender.

Zhang Jingwei chuckled inwardly, but maintained a serious expression. "Sun Yaolang, you have a good tongue! It's pork! How's it? Delicious, isn't it? This is the finest hind leg meat, processed using a secret method!" He naturally wouldn't reveal that it was top-notch grass-fed beef tenderloin (fillet) that Li Yi had procured from outside the Great Wall. It had delicate texture and evenly distributed fat, specially marinated and pan-fried at high temperature to achieve this quality. Although everyone in the room was close, if Douya let slip, and word got out that he, the county magistrate, was the first to eat beef (privately slaughtering oxen for work was a serious crime), it would be troublesome.

Sun Yaolang savored another piece carefully and praised sincerely: "The meat is cooked so deliciously and juicy, which makes people linger on the taste." Her words were simple, but they expressed her affirmation of this ultimate delicacy.

"Ling'er." Sun Yaolang put down his knife and fork, and from his sleeve he pulled out a delicately embroidered sachet that exuded a faint herbal fragrance. He looked at Huangfu Ling lovingly, "Happy birthday. This sachet is for you. It contains some herbs I prepared. They will clear your mind and brighten your eyes. Keep it with you and you will ward off common poisonous miasma and foul air."

Huangfu Ling took the medicine sachet, feeling its warmth and the intoxicating aroma. She hadn't expected anyone to remember her birthday. Her husband had been so busy with official duties that she had almost forgotten. Receiving this thoughtful gift, a wave of warmth welled up in her heart, and her eyes reddened slightly. "Thank you, Auntie... I didn't expect... you'd even remember my birthday..." her voice choked.

Jiuer next to her pouted deliberately and said sourly: "Of course I remember! My mother cares about you so much, even more than her own daughter like me! The material of this medicine bag is the best satin she has kept in the bottom of her box!" Although she was complaining, her tone was full of intimacy.

Sun Yaolang smiled dotingly, stretched out his finger and gently pushed Jiuer's forehead: "You girl, you are even jealous of your sister Ling'er!"

Zhang Jingwei looked at this heartwarming scene, his heart moved, and he said loudly, "Ling'er and her godmother get along so well, they're like mother and daughter. Today is Ling'er's birthday, a very auspicious day! Why not take this opportunity to acknowledge Sun Yaolang as your godmother, thus strengthening the relationship?" He turned to Liang Dahai and ordered, "Dahai, go and pour two cups of hot tea!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Yaolang was so shocked that he quickly waved his hands, "No, no! Master Zhang, this is absolutely not allowed! How can I, a common woman, a country bumpkin, be worthy of being the godmother of the Marquis' daughter? This is truly an insult to me!"

Zhang Jingwei stood up with a serious expression and bowed deeply to Sun Yaolang: "Sun Yaolang, my husband and I sincerely want to recognize you as our godmother. You are an excellent doctor and kind-hearted. You treat Ling'er like your own daughter and take good care of our family. This kind of affection cannot be measured by status. I hope that godmother will fulfill our wish!" His tone was sincere and there was no pretense.

At this time, Liang Dahai was walking quickly towards them, holding a tray with two cups of steaming hot tea on it.

Huangfu Ling also stood up immediately, walked to Sun Yaolang, with expectation and admiration in her eyes, and bowed down: "Godmother, please accept my daughter's bow! I hope you will grant me your wish!" Her voice was crisp, with the tenderness and determination of a girl.

Zhang Jingwei saw the tears welling in Sun Yaolang's eyes and her hands trembling with excitement. He knew that she had already agreed in her heart, but was just sticking to the formalities. He smiled and stepped forward, gently helping Huangfu Ling to her feet. "Alright, Ling'er, be good. Get up." Then he turned to Sun Yaolang and spoke in a more intimate and natural tone. "Godmother, please don't refuse. You've been so kind and caring to Ling'er. I've long considered you my own elder and Ling'er my own daughter. Today's recognition is just to establish a proper status, so that Ling'er can honor you in the future with justification."

Sun Yaolang looked at the affectionate young couple before him, then at Huangfu Ling's eyes filled with admiration, and the last bit of worry in his heart was washed away by a warm current. She reached out with a trembling hand and took one of the cups of tea from Liang Dahai, smiling and saying, "Good boy, get up quickly. Godmother recognizes you! She recognizes you!"