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

Huangfu Ling was hugged by Zhang Jingwei, and the two of them whispered sweet words about surviving the disaster and slowly walked towards the inner courtyard.

Outside the government office, a crowd gathered under the eaves. Wang Ergou squatted on the ground, his neck stretched out curiously, as if examining something rare, examining Jia Dayong, who lay unconscious, like a small mountain on the cold stone pavement.

"Young Master," Wang Ergou raised his head and looked at Zhang Jingwei and his wife who were about to leave, "Who is this... warrior lying on the ground?" He pointed at Jia Dayong's coarse cloth clothes covered with mud and his strong body.

Zhang Jingwei retracted his gaze and glanced at the "hero" on the ground, with a helpless and funny expression on his face: "His name is Jia Dayong, from Jia Village. Uh... he is my savior. He will stay in the mansion to work in the future." His tone was casual, but with a sense of recognition.

Zhang Liu, who had been supported by Zhang Shiyi, heard the names "Jia Cun" and "Jia Dayong." His cloudy old eyes carefully examined the burly man on the ground, especially his honest face, as if remembering something. He stroked his graying beard and said uncertainly, "Oh? Jia Dayong... Jia Rende's family? Is he the Rende family's eldest son?"

Wang Ergou was surprised: "Sixth Master, do you know his father?"

Zhang Liu nodded, with a look of reminiscence on his face: "I still have some impression of many elderly elders in Jia Village. Judging from their stature and features, they are 70% similar to Jia Rende when he was young. Rende was an honest and hardworking farmer, but unfortunately... Alas, he was also a miserable man." He sighed and said no more.

At this time, Qian Ming, who had been squatting beside Jia Dayong, was pinching his Ren Zhong acupoint with his thumb. After pinching for a long time, Jia Dayong just hummed twice, his eyelids did not move, and his breathing was very steady.

"Hey, this guy!" Qian Ming shook his sore fingers, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, "He's sleeping so soundly! He can't even wake up even after pinching me like this?"

Liang Dahai was anxious watching from the side and rolled up his sleeves: "What's the use of being so gentle? Wait!" He turned around and ran, shouting as he ran, "I'll go get a bucket of well water! It's so cold, I guarantee he will jump up with a start!" He was obviously full of "passion" to "awaken" Jia Dayong.

Zhang Jingwei looked at Liang Dahai's impulsive back, then at Jia Dayong sleeping soundly on the ground, smiled helplessly and shook his head, but didn't try to stop him. This guy has a tough skin and a little cold water on him won't hurt him.

After a while, Liang Dahai came back carrying a huge wooden barrel. The barrel was filled with water freshly drawn from the well, which was a little chilly in the early autumn evening.

"Get out of the way!" Liang Dahai shouted, pushing aside the crowd and approaching Jia Dayong. Without the slightest hesitation, he flicked his wrist and said, "Clang!"

A whole bucket of refreshing well water poured over Jia Dayong's head and face like a small waterfall!

“Ouch——!!!”

A deafening scream instantly shattered the tranquility of the county government office! Jia Dayong, like a bear whose tail had been stepped on, suddenly leaped up from the ground! His movement was so swift that it caused a huge splash of water!

He was soaked all over, like a drowned chicken, his teeth chattering from the cold, and he wiped the cold water off his face with his hands. His eyes were as big as bells and he looked around in horror!

What caught his eye were the corridors with carved beams and painted rafters, the majestic county government building, and a group of well-dressed people surrounding him, pointing and talking, with various expressions on their faces (curiosity, amusement, concern).

Jia Dayong's mind went blank as a huge panic gripped him. He subconsciously hugged his soaking wet self, his voice trembling: "Are you... are you... are you... are you ghost messengers? This... this magnificent... is... is... is this the Hades' Palace in the underworld?!" He was clearly terrified by the unfamiliar surroundings and the "luxury" display, and thought he was already dead.

Seeing his silly look, Liang Dahai couldn't help but burst out laughing. He walked forward, deliberately brushed his hair off his forehead, and struck a pose that he thought was elegant and graceful. He teased, "Nonsense! Have you ever seen such a handsome and suave ghost messenger? Take a closer look!"

Qian Ming couldn't help laughing. He stepped forward and patted Jia Dayong's wet and cold shoulder, saying gently, "Brother, don't be afraid! This is the mortal world! This is the Gaoyang County Government! This is our young master's home! You are not dead, and we are all alive and well!"

Jia Dayong shuddered at the slap, but hearing the word "Young Master" finally cleared his foggy mind. He suddenly remembered the scene before he fainted—the Young Master! He hurriedly grabbed Qian Ming's arm and asked anxiously, "Oh, right! The Young Master! Is he… is he okay?! Those cavalrymen…" His face was filled with worry and self-blame, as if the Young Master's safety was the top priority.

Qian Ming felt a little pain from being grabbed by him, but he still smiled and comforted him, "Don't worry! Don't worry! You're fine and alive and well, so our young master is naturally fine! He just ordered that you stay at the mansion and work from now on!"

Jia Dayong listened to Qian Ming's words, and his hanging heart finally let go. A huge joy surged in his heart, and he grinned, revealing an extremely honest smile: "It's good that you're okay! It's good that you're okay!"

At this time, Gao Ying's voice came from the side, with a bit of ease and teasing: "Alright, alright! Now that everyone is awake, everything is fine. It was just a false alarm!" He turned to Zhang Liu, "Uncle Liu, please take this brother Dayong downstairs first, find him some clean clothes to change into, and then arrange a place to stay. It's wet here, don't let him catch a cold." He then touched his stomach and said loudly, "I've been busy for most of the day, and my stomach is really rumbling! I think it's getting late, let's... have dinner!"

"Finally, we can have a good meal!" Liang Dahai was the first to respond. He was still excited from splashing water.

Wang Ergou also responded with a smile.

……

The Yuehua Tower was brightly lit and bustling with activity. Tonight, the county magistrate had lavishly booked the entire restaurant for a banquet for everyone in the yamen, celebrating his narrow escape and rewarding them for their days of hard work and worry. Over forty tables, each with its own eight-person table, were packed. Constables, yamen runners, accountants, handymen, and even the newly arrived Jia Dayong, all dressed in clean clothes, their faces radiating relief and a rare sense of joy after surviving a disaster. Clinking glasses, laughter and chatter filled the air, the rich aroma of wine and meat filling the air.

At the main table, Zhang Jingwei, dressed in a brand new royal blue uniform, looked a bit pale but in high spirits, chatting and laughing cheerfully with Gao Jiong, Qian Ming, Wang Ergou, and the others beside him. Huangfu Ling sat on his other side, a faint smile on her face, her eyes always gently fixed on her husband, occasionally serving him food.

Qian Ming raised his glass and toasted Zhang Jingwei. After putting the glass down, he moved closer and asked in a low voice, "Young Master, where is that evil Taoist Shen Kaiyang being held now? Is he still behaving himself?" When he mentioned the name, a fierce look flashed in his eyes.

Zhang Jingwei picked up a piece of braised pork and said casually, "Don't worry, he's locked up in the garrison, guarded by Captain Qi himself. He can't escape."

Qian Ming nodded, then sighed with emotion: "The garrison camp has just been cleared of a large number of termites. Those who were arrested were arrested and those who were evacuated were evacuated. This Captain Qi is a new face. It is not easy for him to take over the position and stabilize the situation so quickly."

Hearing this, Zhang Jingwei smiled and nodded with his chopsticks at Gao Jiong, who was leisurely sipping wine beside him. "This is all thanks to our Brother Zhaoxuan! He was so prepared and strategic, and he arranged the right person long ago."

Gao Jiong put down his wine glass and waved his hand modestly, "Master, you are too kind. I can only do my best and leave the rest to fate. The real backbone and courage still lies with you, Master."

Zhang Jingwei smiled, then remembered something and asked curiously, "By the way, Brother Zhaoxuan, I've actually always been curious. Why did you strictly order everyone in the mansion not to go out to look for me? You even pinned down that reckless man, Mu Tou."

Gao Jiong picked up the folding fan on the table, tapped his palm lightly, his eyes became sharper: "There are two reasons. First, the Jiujun Sect has been operating in Gaoyang for a long time, with many spies and deep roots. If someone in the mansion rashly goes out and his whereabouts are exposed, there is no guarantee that the news will not leak out. If Shen Kaiyang's accomplices knew that you were still alive, or even knew that you were in Jia Village, they would definitely be desperate and rescue or kill you at all costs. At that time, you will be in the countryside with weak defenses, and your situation will be extremely dangerous!" He paused, a mischievous smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, "The second reason... naturally I have to perform well in front of you, the big boss, and take all the credit for saving you! If Mu Tou and the others find you first, where will I, the 'big boss', put my face?" He half-jokingly said some of his true thoughts.

Wang Ergou, standing by, nodded repeatedly in admiration. He couldn't help but ask, "Master Boss, you've really planned everything out! But...how are you so sure the young master is in Jia Village? We've followed the map, and there are more than a dozen villages connected to the lower reaches of the underground river!"

Gao Jiong unfurled his folding fan with a swish, gently waving it as he analyzed calmly, "It's simple, because Jiacun is the most likely candidate. You've been misled by the map. As the saying goes, a cunning rabbit has three burrows. The Nine Lords Cult deliberately left clues leading to more than a dozen villages just to confuse you and keep you running around. But think about it carefully," he pointed the tip of his fan at the table, "Gaoyang is mountainous, and most villages are built on the mountains. The actual river system is not complex, and there are only a few places with underground river outlets and strong currents strong enough to sweep people under. Combined with the water flow and wind direction at the time, as well as Jiacun's location and Jia Renyi's connection with the Zhang family... a little deduction shows that Jiacun is the most likely candidate. You've been blinded by that fake map and have fallen into the dark."

Wang Ergou suddenly understood and slapped his thigh, "Brilliant! Really brilliant! The head shopkeeper is incredibly clever!"

Zhang Jingwei raised his chin proudly: "Of course! How can my vision of people be bad? Otherwise, why would I invite you to be my head manager?" He took the credit for his "good eye for talent" without hesitation.

Liang Dahai also came over to toast, and said with a naive smile: "After all, it is because of your good fortune, young master! You fell from such a high place, with your hands tied, but you still survived! It must be the blessing of your ancestors!" His words resonated with everyone.

Mu Tou had been listening silently, but at this moment he couldn't help but ask, "Young Master, your hands were tied at that time, how did you survive in the water? And... and caught Shen Kaiyang?" This was something he had been unable to figure out.

The smile on Zhang Jingwei's face froze slightly, then returned to normal. He picked up the wine glass and took a sip, his tone filled with fear and self-mockery: "To be honest, I don't know exactly how I swam. I was dragged down by that guy Shen Kaiyang and fell into the water. I choked on the water and almost fainted. I guess it was the instinct for survival... I just bit him tightly! I stuck to him like a plaster! He struggled, and I bit harder! Maybe... he was trying desperately to float up, and dragged me up with him? Anyway, when I woke up, I was already on the shore, and that demon Taoist was half-dead and was pinned down by me." He lightly glanced over the thrilling life-and-death struggle in the water.

At this time, the waiter was carrying a huge tray and shouting loudly: "The last big dish - charcoal grilled whole lamb is here!"

A rich aroma of meat mixed with cumin and burnt aroma instantly spread out, attracting everyone's attention and making their appetites whet.

Gao Ying looked at the golden, crispy, sizzling lamb, took a deep breath, and praised, "Hmm! This aroma is amazing!" He looked at Zhang Jingwei and changed the subject, "You said you wanted to acquire this Yuehualou?"

Zhang Jingwei also looked at the roasted lamb, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness. "Yes! That's it. The price is fair, the ingredients are fresh, the chef's cooking is authentic, and most importantly, the business is booming and the reputation is excellent. I want to buy it and incorporate it into the military's business portfolio. Moreover," he lowered his voice with a hint of deep meaning, "this Yuehua Tower... doesn't belong to any of the three major families, so its background is clean."

Gao Jiong was a little surprised. "Oh? I remember Gaoyang Tower is the most imposing and well-located restaurant in this city, known as the tallest building in the northern part of Yunzhou. Why did you give up the Golden Nest and instead set your sights on Yuehua Tower?"

Zhang Jingwei smiled mysteriously, with a cold light flashing in his eyes: "That Gaoyang Tower? Hehe, of course it has its uses. But it's not used to open a restaurant. That Yaolou... I have other arrangements." He didn't say it explicitly, but Gao Jiong understood what the boss was planning.

Gao Jiong nodded, then said seriously, "The expansion project of the Water Defense Camp has been successfully completed. I will have the military personnel coordinate the subsequent accounts and personnel arrangements. Now that things are settled here, it's time for me to leave for Beijing. The construction of the Yunzhou General's Mansion has been delayed for too long. If it drags on any longer, I'm afraid I won't be able to explain to the Marquis as the supervisor."

Zhang Jingwei's expression grew serious at the mention of Yunzhou. He put down his chopsticks and looked at Gao Jiong. "By the way, Brother Zhaoxuan, since you came from Yunzhou this time, did my father-in-law... tell you anything? Regarding Yunzhou... has anything major happened recently?" He had a vague feeling that Gao Jiong had come in a hurry this time, and it seemed that it wasn't just for the Water Defense Battalion and him.

The relaxed look on Gao Ying's face faded. He put down his wine glass, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice with a solemn tone: "Yunzhou...something big has indeed happened. And it's...a very difficult matter."

Zhang Jingwei's heart tightened: "Can you tell me about it?"

Gao Jiong glanced around at the noisy crowd, making sure no one was paying attention. Then he said in a deep voice, "The newly appointed Tongzhi and Tongpan of Yunzhou were on their way to their new posts when they met with accidents...in Yunzhou."

"Ah?" Zhang Jingwei was shocked. "Could we have encountered bandits? Weren't the bandits in Yunzhou wiped out long ago?" He remembered the chain reaction caused by his last "disappearance".

Gao Jiong shook his head, his eyes sharp. "After you disappeared that time, the Marquis was furious and personally led his troops to comb through all the mountaintops in Yunzhou. Now, where are the bandits left? Not even a hair has been found!"

Zhang Jingwei touched his nose awkwardly: "Uh... then..."

Gao Jiong continued, "These two men arrived from the capital one after the other to take up their posts, only a few days apart. As a result, both...died in a car accident."

Zhang Jingwei frowned. "The spring water is slippery, and the mountain roads are difficult to navigate. Dying in a car accident... that sounds... normal, right?"

"The way they died seems normal," Gao Jiong said in a chilling voice, "but the key is that these two were officials sent from the capital! Moreover, they have powerful backgrounds! They died inexplicably in Yunzhou. Governor Liu must give the court an explanation! Otherwise..."

Zhang Jingwei pressed on, "What else could it be? Who are these two people? Why do they have such strong backing?"

Gao Jiong slowly uttered the heart-wrenching name: "The Minister of the Chancellery and the Minister of the Censorate, the current Grand Tutor—Shi Jinchao! A former student of Prime Minister Shi!"

"It's the Shi family again!" Zhang Jingwei slammed the table, his voice unconsciously rising a few notches, drawing the attention of those at the neighboring tables. Realizing his loss of composure, he quickly lowered his voice, his eyes blazing with anger. "This Shi family is truly haunting! They've reached into Yunzhou again!"

Gao Jiong nodded helplessly: "So, the people from the capital, especially Prime Minister Shi's men, died in Yunzhou inexplicably. This matter must be thoroughly investigated and explained clearly. Otherwise, the official position of Prefect Liu may be lost, and if things go wrong... it will implicate many people." He didn't finish his words, but Zhang Jingwei already understood the danger.

The lively banquet continued, filled with laughter and joy. But at the head table, Zhang Jingwei's heart was quietly overshadowed by the news from Yunzhou.