My Husband is a Drama King [Book Transmigration] 72

Chapter 72: Man-made Disaster in Yongzhou

Song Changxu nodded and smiled in agreement. “I promise you, I will.”

Xu Zhizhou took out twenty taels and handed it to him. “Take more silver with you when you’re out. If anything unexpected happens, you won’t be afraid with money on you. Although the disaster relief is important, to me, you are also very important. You must come back safely, husband.”

Song Changxu did not refuse. He kissed Xu Zhizhou’s forehead. “You’re in the capital. I’ll be back.”

The two of them slept in each other’s arms.

The next day, Song Changxu left with his bundle and the people from the court. This was his first time leaving the capital since he had arrived. On the road, he had Shen Liang and a clerk for company, so it was not a lonely journey.

They traveled day and night and arrived in Yongzhou ten days earlier than expected. The city gates were already closed. At the gate, Song Changxu lifted the curtain, showed the court’s token to the guards, and only then did they respectfully cup their hands and open the gate. “Please come in, Your Excellency.”

This time, for the disaster relief, Song Changxu was the main official, and Shen Liang was the deputy. The two of them sat in the carriage with the disaster relief silver and grain and entered Yongzhou Prefecture. When they reached the yamen, the prefect of Yongzhou, a middle-aged man of about fifty, knew their origins and was very warm to them.

“You two have had a long journey. I have already prepared a banquet to welcome you,” the prefect of Yongzhou said with a smile.

Song Changxu and Shen Liang looked at each other. It would be disrespectful to refuse.

“Then we’ll have to trouble you to lead the way, Prefect,” Song Changxu said with a smile.

At the banquet, amidst the clinking of glasses, the prefect of Yongzhou was flawless. Song Changxu looked at the table full of delicacies, and then thought of the ragged common people he had seen when he had entered the city. He had a few bites, had two cups of wine with the prefect, and then couldn’t eat anymore.

“The court’s disaster relief has finally arrived. Sir Liang had said before that he was coming with the grain and silver, but when he arrived in Yongzhou, both had disappeared. After he had written a memorial to His Majesty, he fell ill and is now lying in the post station. Sir Song, Sir Shen, what do you think? Sir Liang’s matter has made it difficult for me, but it was also an unintentional mistake.”

Song Changxu said, “His Majesty will have his own judgment on this matter. Brother Shen and I are only here for the disaster relief.”

The prefect of Yongzhou was not angry at Song Changxu’s official tone. He had been an official for so many years and had met many people, and many of them knew how to speak in an official tone.

After they had eaten, the prefect of Yongzhou sighed. “Let’s give the leftovers to the disaster victims. Otherwise, it would be a waste.”

The assistant took the order and said, “Sir Zhang is so kind. Every time you come to the restaurant for a banquet, you always give the leftovers to the disaster victims. You’re so benevolent.”

Prefect Zhang: “It’s not easy for anyone. As a parent official, how can I see the common people suffer?”

This show of kindness made Song Changxu’s expression soften, and he became more friendly to Prefect Zhang. “Sir Zhang is very kind.”

The two of them exchanged a few compliments, and Prefect Zhang left with satisfaction.

“Brother Shen, it’s just us now. Let’s go for a walk in Yongzhou City,” Song Changxu said.

Shen Liang: “Since we’re here for disaster relief, we should investigate.”

The two of them had a consensus. They explored Yongzhou City. The shops on the road were desolate. Several restaurants were closed, and there were no people in the grocery stores or noodle shops. Basically, all the restaurants were gone. The cloth shops were still open, but there was no grain.

Song Changxu and the others continued to walk and saw a shop with a long queue. It was indeed a grain shop.

The price was already sky-high for the common people. Song Changxu and Shen Liang’s hearts sank. They found an old man.

Song Changxu exchanged a bag of rice with the old man. “We’ve just arrived in Yongzhou. I remember that His Majesty has already issued a decree for disaster relief. Why is Yongzhou still in such a miserable state?”

The old man sized them up, looked at the soldiers who looked like servants behind them, and had a guess.

Holding the grain, he said, “At first, when Sir Liang came with the grain and silver, we were all happy. But then his silver and grain were robbed by the people from the Tiger Head Fortress. After he had entered the city with his subordinates, there was nothing he could do.”

“Sir Liang then pressured Sir Zhang to deal with the country gentlemen and large households in the city. Sir Zhang did indeed deal with a few of them, but it was a drop in the bucket. The largest households in Yongzhou City are the Zhang family and his in-laws, the Liu family.”

The old man coughed up a mouthful of blood. He gave a bitter smile. “After Sir Liang fell ill in the post station, our life became even more difficult. I’m an old man and don’t have much to live for, but my grandson is still young. I don’t want him to die here.”

Song Changxu: “Is there no one to deal with a lawless person like Prefect Zhang?”

“Young master, who is there to deal with him? The prefect is the highest official in Yongzhou. I heard that His Majesty has sent an imperial envoy this time. I hope he can put an end to this disaster. Otherwise, I don’t know how many more people will die.”

Song Changxu and Shen Liang fell silent. Shen Liang asked the old man a few more questions and then let him go.

Before he left, the old man glanced at them. “If there is a just official, then give the people of Yongzhou a good life.”

With that, the old man took his grandson’s hand, hid the grain in his clothes, and walked away with a limp.

Song Changxu and Shen Liang went to the post station. They found another place to put the disaster relief silver and grain. Neither of them trusted the people of Yongzhou very much.

After a long journey to Yongzhou, they had first had a confrontation with Prefect Zhang, and had also heard some things. The two of them were both tired and sleepy, but they couldn’t fall asleep.

“Brother Shen, let’s go and visit Sir Liang and then come back to rest.”

Shen Liang readily agreed.

After they had heard the news from the court, they had made a judgment about Sir Liang. He might be a corrupt person, but now it didn’t seem to be the case.

Song Changxu and Shen Liang went to visit Sir Liang. A person was guarding the door. It was his trusted aide.

“My master is in a coma from time to time and has not yet woken up. If you want to visit him, I’ll go in and call him first,” the attendant said.

Song Changxu nodded. “I’ll have to trouble you.”

The attendant hurried in and came out with tears in his eyes, inviting them in.

As soon as Song Changxu and Shen Liang entered, they smelled the scent of blood and burning mugwort. There was a bloody cloth on the desk. On the bed, a man as thin as a skeleton had only his eyeballs moving. The snow-white inner garment he wore had a deathly air, and the hands inside the wide sleeves were just bones.

Sir Liang was coughing in fits. The attendant served tea, cleaned up, and then closed the door and went out.

“Please sit, sirs.”

“I’ve been waiting for a long time. There’s a breath I can’t let go of,” Sir Liang said, his face pale, but his eyes were shining. “If I die like this, Prefect Zhang will throw all the dirty water on me. Then not only me, but also those who are related to me will be implicated. I’m not at ease.”

“His Majesty trusted me and sent me here for disaster relief. I’ve messed things up. I won’t have the face to see him even in the underworld.”

Seeing that Sir Liang was emotional, Song Changxu quickly advised, “Sir Liang, speak slowly. Don’t be in a hurry.”

Sir Liang knew that his body was not the same as before. He calmed himself and said, “How should I address you two?”

“My surname is Song, a junior sixth-rank compiler. This is Shen, a junior seventh-rank compiler.”

“So it’s the top scorer and the second-place graduate. Good. This way, I’m not afraid that you’ll have any connection with Prefect Zhang. I was robbed as soon as I came to Yongzhou. The official silver and grain disappeared overnight. I can’t escape my crime even with a thousand deaths. I had to first submit a memorial to His Majesty to confess my guilt and then shamelessly ask him to send more disaster relief silver.”

“During this time, I had a lot of contact with Prefect Zhang and knew that the large households in the city were all thinking of making a fortune. It was better to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys. I didn’t kill any of them. After Prefect Zhang pleaded for them and forced out the grain, I gave it to the common people. But then I fell ill.”

“I’ve found a part of the account book, which is evidence of Prefect Zhang’s collusion with others. I was originally thinking of giving it to my attendant after I died and having him take it to the capital to a friend, who would then present it to His Majesty. Now that you’re here, I’ll give it to you.”

Song Changxu cupped his hands. “Brother Shen and I will definitely fulfill your request, Sir Liang.”

Sir Liang started to cough again, and large mouthfuls of blood flowed from his mouth. Hearing the cough, the attendant pushed open the door from outside and cried as he wiped the blood for him. His snow-white inner garment could not support his body, and it was stained with blood, a patch of bright red.

Sir Liang pointed to the drawer. “It’s there.”

Song Changxu opened the drawer and found that there was no account book inside. He and Shen Liang looked at each other, then tapped around, and finally found the account book in a hidden compartment.

“Keep this account book well. Don’t let it be seen. And the disaster relief, you have to do the disaster relief,” Sir Liang said.

“Don’t worry, Sir Liang.”

A doctor hurried in. Song Changxu and Shen Liang went back to the post station. He handed the account book to Shen Liang.

“It’s safer to have it with you, Brother Shen.”

Shen Liang’s heart stirred. He said, “You should also carry something to make it look real.”

The two of them planned in a low voice.

After speaking, Song Changxu was extremely tired. He washed up, pulled up the quilt, and fell asleep.

When he woke up, Song Changxu had the innkeeper make a bowl of egg noodles and went to see Sir Liang.

The attendant said, “My master has just fallen asleep. Please don’t disturb him, Sir Song.”

Song Changxu: “Alright. Sir Liang should rest well.”

The attendant’s eyes were filled with tears again. The doctor had seen his master’s illness and had said that his days were numbered. His master had only come to Yongzhou for disaster relief on His Majesty’s order. How could he be dying before the disaster was even over?

His master was only in his forties, at the prime of his career. Thinking of this, the attendant shed tears of sadness.

This time, he would die in a foreign land.

.

Song Changxu and Shen Liang first carried out the disaster relief. With silver and grain, it was easy to do as long as they were careful. Neither of them trusted the people of the prefecture and only used their own. The people sent by the prefecture could only linger on the outside and do some odd jobs.

The silver was used for work-for-relief. The grain in Yongzhou Prefecture was expensive. The grain brought from the capital was cheap and could last for a while. The silver was sent to other prefectures to buy grain by trusted aides.

The closest prefecture to Yongzhou was Jingzhou.

Song Changxu had a deep impression of Jingzhou. He remembered that the prefect of Jingzhou was Bie Yu. Song Changxu wrote a letter and had someone take it to Jingzhou by express horse to buy grain.

“Also, the bodies of the dead should be burned as soon as possible to prevent an epidemic,” Song Changxu said.

The people below took their orders.

In ancient times, it was important to be buried in peace. But there were too many bodies in Yongzhou City. Only by burning them could an epidemic be avoided.

A few plumes of smoke appeared in Yongzhou. Some were for cooking congee, and some were for burning bodies. Someone was crying. Compared to before, at least there was some order in Yongzhou now.

The grain shops looked at their disaster relief with a cold eye, and then unwillingly lowered the price of their grain.

Song Changxu finally knew why Yongzhou Prefecture had to close its gates during the day. It was to prevent outside merchants from coming in to compete for business. How shameless.

On the surface, he and Shen Liang still appeared naive, like new officials who had just entered the officialdom, who were just doing disaster relief and did not care about the changes in Yongzhou City.

Prefect’s Residence

In front of Prefect Zhang were delicacies: abalone, roasted lamb, braised pork knuckle, yellow braised shark’s fin, Sichuan-style duck feet…

He only had a few bites with his chopsticks.

“Sir, we can’t get a hand in their disaster relief. They’re very vigilant. Also, they’ve seen Sir Liang. I don’t know if he will say anything.”

Prefect Zhang threw down his chopsticks. “What are you afraid of? As long as they’re in Yongzhou Prefecture, this is my territory. Sir Liang, this Sir Liang should have died long ago.”

Now that Song Changxu and Shen Liang were doing a good job with the disaster relief in Yongzhou Prefecture, he still had to give them face. After all, if something happened in Yongzhou again, even a fool would notice the problem.

He would wait a little longer. After they had finished the disaster relief, he would make a move.

These days, Song Changxu and Shen Liang were so busy that their feet didn’t touch the ground. They counted the number of disaster victims and their skills, and then assigned them.

The flood had destroyed the houses. They had to rebuild them. The grain transported from Jingzhou had also arrived, with a letter from the prefect of Jingzhou, Bie Yu, which was full of official jargon.

Song Changxu had burned it after he had read it. Now that he was an official, he couldn’t be as careless as before. He had to leave as few handles as possible.

The grain from Jingzhou had greatly relieved the pressure. Disaster relief was to tide them over the difficult times. After a long time, as long as it was not a large-scale disaster in the Ningxing Dynasty, the various prefectures could still provide support.

Song Changxu and Shen Liang were relieved. The houses were already taking shape, and the common people were gradually regaining their motivation. As long as someone guided them and gave them hope, they would have a desire for life themselves.

At night, they returned to the post station for dinner. He keenly noticed that someone was watching him.

Song Changxu had a few bites of the cold dishes and then stopped. He drank a cup of wine. After he had finished, the faint gaze disappeared.

Song Changxu made an excuse to go to the latrine and threw up the wine.

At night, they went back to their respective rooms. Song Changxu washed up and lay on the bed. In the middle of the night, someone came in through the window, their steps light, and searched his room. Finally, they found the account book in his pillowcase.

After getting the account book, the person quickly left.

After a while, Song Changxu opened his eyes and let out a breath. As the local tyrant, how could Prefect Zhang not know that he was missing an account book? He was waiting for Sir Liang to say it.

This account book was a copy that Song Changxu had transcribed. It was fine if it was taken.

The next day, Song Changxu told Shen Liang about what had happened last night. Shen Liang was filled with fear. He pulled on Song Changxu and said in a low voice, “Brother Song, don’t be so reckless in the future. What if they had wanted to do something to you? You would have died last night.”

“They wouldn’t have alerted the enemy at this juncture, but you’re right, Brother Shen.”

Song Changxu and Shen Liang were talking about the disaster relief when a loud noise came from upstairs.

“Sir!”

Song Changxu and Shen Liang immediately looked at each other and ran up. Sir Liang was already gone. The attendant was holding his body and crying.

They saw Sir Liang off.

“I have never heard of Sir Liang. This account book should have been his credit, but he died just like that,” Shen Liang said. He knew that this news, the account book, and the excitement of the disaster relief had all turned into a sense of powerlessness.

Song Changxu: “If we didn’t know the truth, then Sir Liang would still have to take the blame for the disaster relief silver being robbed. When we go back to the capital, we have to clear his name.”

Shen Liang nodded. In front of Prefect Zhang, they still had to pretend to be deaf and dumb.

Seeing that Yongzhou Prefecture had mostly recovered, Song Changxu breathed a sigh of relief, but he still had a hidden worry.

With such a prefect, life in Yongzhou Prefecture was not good. As an official, one should be responsible for benefiting the people and relieving their difficulties. If one did not think of ways to benefit the people, but instead exploited and harmed them, that was not the way of an official.

“Sir Song, Yongzhou Prefecture is now full of life thanks to you and Sir Shen,” Prefect Zhang said with a smile as he came over.

On the surface, Song Changxu’s voice was still gentle. “Sir Zhang, we are just sent by His Majesty. We dare not take the credit.”

Prefect Zhang smiled, thinking that Song Changxu was a sensible person. He patted his shoulder. “I’ve heard that Sir Song has no background. Sir Shen is Sir Liu’s son-in-law and will surely have a bright future. But you are different, Sir Song…”

Song Changxu: “Whether I rely on Sir Liu or someone else, it all depends on His Majesty’s will.”

He’s so flawless. Prefect Zhang was annoyed in his heart, but his mood improved when he thought of something.

“Don’t be nervous, Sir Song. I also want to do you a favor. I have an illegitimate son who can marry you as a concubine. In the future, our two families will be one, and you will have an in-law to help you. You can just call me ‘father-in-law’.”

Song Changxu: “…”

I’ve never seen someone who wants to be a father so badly.

Song Changxu said thoughtfully, “My husband has just received a jade pendant from the Phoenix Lord at General Xiao’s banquet, praising our deep love. And then I take a concubine when I come for disaster relief. I’m being too bold, Sir Zhang. I’m slapping His Highness’s face.”

Prefect Zhang frowned. It was indeed not good to act rashly. The Xiao family was not to be trifled with.

He gave up the idea, but did not forget to warn Song Changxu. “If you’ve lost anything in Yongzhou Prefecture, Sir Song, remember to tell me. I’ll send someone to help you find it.”

Song Changxu’s face changed. “It really was you!”

Seeing that Song Changxu was losing his composure, Prefect Zhang was in a good mood. He said hypocritically, “What are you talking about, Sir Song? I don’t know. Tonight, I’m hosting a banquet to celebrate for you and Sir Shen. After all, you’ll be going back to the capital after the disaster relief is over. I just remembered Sir Liang.”

Prefect Zhang said with regret, “It’s a pity that Sir Liang can never go back. The matter of the missing disaster relief silver is still a mystery. We can only let him take the blame. I think he must have been so ashamed that he fell ill.”

Song Changxu clenched his fists and smiled at Prefect Zhang as he left.

After he had left, he let out a breath. He still had to endure.

At night, Song Changxu and Shen Liang attended the banquet on time. This time, it was held at the prefect’s residence. Not only the prefect, but also the officials and country gentlemen below were there. There were dancers at the banquet, and a country gentleman casually pulled a ge’er over.

It was a scene of debauchery.

“This is Sir Song and Sir Shen. They look so young. His Majesty has sent you to be imperial envoys. He must think highly of you. In the future, when you become high-ranking officials, we will have to look at your faces. For the sake of this cup of wine, please be lenient with us,” a country gentleman said very eloquently.

Song Changxu took the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp. “If I really do gain His Majesty’s favor, I will naturally promote you. This is my first assignment, and I also hope for a good result.”

With mutual affection, they soon started to drink and eat meat. Song Changxu refused the ge’er who came over to him.

Shen Liang also politely refused.

Prefect Zhang laughed. “You two are so pitiful. One is under the pressure of his in-laws and is not free. The other has a husband who has gained His Highness’s favor and does not dare to act rashly. Without a beauty by your side, you’ve missed half the fun in life.”

As he spoke, he had a woman on each arm.

Shen Liang was from a standard aristocratic family. They valued elegance, and their banquets were also light. They would not be so casual with the singing and dancing ge’ers and women. He frowned at the sight, thinking that they were vulgar.

Song Changxu only ate. After a while, he and Shen Liang left together. Neither of them had been impolite.

As soon as the two outsiders had left, the people at the banquet became even bolder.

“Two country bumpkins from the capital. So what if they have a status? They’re not as carefree as us,” a country gentleman laughed.

Song Changxu and Shen Liang returned to the post station and drank a bowl of sobering soup. They would be returning to the capital tomorrow.

Shen Liang was in a bad mood today. He went to Song Changxu’s room to talk.

“We’ve been here for two months. The disaster relief is resolved, but I also feel that it’s a bit different from what I had thought,” Shen Liang said.

Song Changxu asked, “What did you think, Brother Shen?”

“I thought that besides revitalizing my family, I also had the heart to take on the world as my responsibility. How did it become like this? What’s the difference between this and a walking corpse?”

Hearing this, Song Changxu’s heart softened. “You’re right, Brother Shen, but others don’t think so. When a person has power and silver, it’s easy to be corrupted, and then they change.”

Shen Liang held Song Changxu’s hand. “Brother Song, if I change in the future, you have to wake me up. If you change, I’ll also wake you up.”

Song Changxu was stunned for a moment, then he smiled. “It’s a deal.”

The next day, the two of them took their subordinates and returned to the capital. Prefect Zhang, looking pale, saw them off with a smile.

Song Changxu lifted the curtain and saw the three large characters of Yongzhou Prefecture. He stared at them for a long time, and then lowered the curtain.

The common people of Yongzhou Prefecture did not know that Song Changxu and Shen Liang had already left. They were repairing their houses. Suddenly, they found that the officials and soldiers who had often come to help them were gone.

They were in a panic. The sirs, the soldiers, why haven’t they come? Has something happened to them? Or are they sick like Sir Liang?

The court’s decision would not be made known to the common people. They had come in a hurry and had left in a hurry. The common people of Yongzhou Prefecture suddenly lost their pillar of support, and their mood fell.

“Sir Song and Sir Shen haven’t come. They were both very good sirs, and the sirs behind them also often helped us.”

Someone went to ask a person on duty at the yamen in a fawning manner.

The yamen runner said impatiently, “They’ve naturally gone back to the capital after the disaster relief. What would they do in Yongzhou City? The capital is prosperous, not comparable to Yongzhou Prefecture. Go, go, go. Go and do your own work. Don’t be nosy about things that are not your business.”

The common people of Yongzhou Prefecture continued to repair their houses. Seeing the appearance of these yamen runners, they also couldn’t find out anything. Fortunately, the eaves were almost repaired, and they had a place to shelter from the wind and rain.

Traveling day and night, Song Changxu and Shen Liang arrived in the capital. Before they had a chance to tidy up, they went to the palace to report to His Majesty.

Laifu was standing outside the Panlong Hall. When he saw Song Changxu and Shen Liang, he hurried forward to report. Emperor Pingjing had them come in.

“Sir Song has finally returned. His Majesty has been worried about the matter in Yongzhou. Now he can finally have a good night’s sleep.”

***

Author’s Note:

Little Song: I’m home. [Dog with a rose in its mouth]

Little Xu: Without me. [Crying]