Volume 1 Chapter 10: The Censor-in-Chief

When Shen Qiuxue saw that only Zhang Wu and Old Wu had come to receive the imperial decree, she could not help but frown.

"Lord Zhang, where is your son, Zhang Yan?" Shen Qiuxue asked, scanning the area.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wu immediately looked at Old Wu and said, "Old Wu, go and fetch that brat at once."

Old Wu looked distressed and leaned in to whisper a few words into Zhang Wu’s ear. Hearing this, a look of anger instantly crossed Zhang Wu’s face. "Damn it! I haven’t even been there in all these years, yet as soon as that brat’s madness is cured, he dares to go to the bro—"

Were it not for Old Wu’s persistent prodding, Zhang Wu would have finished the word "brothel." The distinction hardly mattered, however; Shen Qiuxue had understood him perfectly.

"Oh? So your son went to a brothel and hasn't returned yet?" Shen Qiuxue remarked with a look of disdain. He had spoken so eloquently at court yesterday, only to spend today indulging in wine and women. Your Majesty, you may truly have misjudged him. Shen Qiuxue shook her head inwardly, planning to report this to Jiang Zhiwan as soon as the decree was delivered.

Just then, Zhang Yan strolled back, swaying slightly as he clutched a box filled with banknotes. He had intended to spend the night at Yanhong Tower, but the establishment’s rules required a patron to gain a lady’s consent before staying in her private chambers. This meant one either had to be wealthy or talented. Zhang Yan had figured that, having topped the poetry competition, he would at least qualify as a refined guest. Moreover, it would have been a convenient opportunity to gather intelligence from the brothel. However, Qingya had insisted that the charitable funds could not be delayed, forcing Zhang Yan to return and settle the fifty thousand taels. Fortunately, there was a five-thousand-tael service fee, so it wasn't a total loss. It was just a pity he still didn’t know what it felt like to be the guest of a top courtesan.

Upon returning, he saw Zhang Wu and Old Wu kneeling on the ground, while Shen Qiuxue, standing at the gate, held a yellow scroll—the imperial decree.

An imperial decree?

Before Zhang Yan could process this, Zhang Wu delivered a sharp chop to his neck, forcing him to his knees with a thud. "You brat, hurry up and kneel to receive the decree!"

Shen Qiuxue gave Zhang Yan a scrutinizing look and said, "Zhang Yan, son of the General of the Central Army, receive the decree!"

"By the grace of the Heavens, the Emperor decrees: Zhang Yan, son of General Zhang Wu, possesses great talent and strategy; his proposal has deeply pleased Us. As the price of grain in Jiangcheng is soaring uncontrollably, you are hereby appointed as Acting Inspecting Censor, with full authority over all matters in Jiangcheng. You are to resolve the grain crisis within half a month. This is the decree!"

By the time Shen Qiuxue finished reading, what little drunkenness remained in Zhang Yan had completely vanished.

"Your subject accepts the decree!"

As Zhang Yan reached out to take the scroll, he suddenly understood. Inspecting Censor? Resolving the grain price? Jiang Zhiwan was testing him; no wonder she hadn't granted him any rewards yesterday.

Zhang Wu, standing to the side, was dumbfounded. Good heavens, his son was actually appointed as an Inspecting Censor? In the past, this was something he wouldn't even have dared to imagine. Why did he suddenly feel such a sense of pride?

Shen Qiuxue, unaware of Zhang Wu’s thoughts, looked at Zhang Yan’s stunned expression and felt even more contempt. "Young Master Zhang, the disaster waits for no one. Please pack your things and depart immediately." As she spoke, she turned to leave.

Seeing the disdain in her eyes, Zhang Yan knew she did not think much of him. If she were to speak ill of him to Jiang Zhiwan, how would he manage to stay in her good graces? With this in mind, he quickly called out to her, "Lord Shen, this is the disaster relief fund I just raised. I originally intended to hand it over to the court tomorrow, but since the imperial decree has arrived, I must trouble you to deliver it on my behalf."

"There are forty thousand taels in total." As he spoke, he handed the box of banknotes to Shen Qiuxue. He wore a smile, but his heart was bleeding.

"Oh? Does Young Master Zhang mean to say that you were at the brothel raising funds?" Shen Qiuxue looked at him suspiciously, taking the box and opening it. A rough estimate told her there was far more than forty thousand taels inside. She didn't believe for a second that he hadn't counted it; this was clearly intentional.

"Precisely. Every time I think of the common people displaced and starving due to the natural disaster, and then look at the grand mansions and estates of Wucheng—where 'the gates of the rich reek of wine and meat, while the poor freeze to death on the road'—my heart aches. That is why I raised these forty thousand taels." Zhang Yan spoke with a look of genuine sorrow. By claiming there were only forty thousand, he was giving Shen Qiuxue room to maneuver; if she wished, the extra ten thousand could be hers. He understood these social nuances; otherwise, how could one survive in such a vast officialdom?

Shen Qiuxue looked at him in surprise, murmuring, "The gates of the rich reek of wine and meat, while the poor freeze to death on the road." Could it be that Zhang Yan truly cared for the world, and that was why he went to the brothel to raise funds?

Zhang Wu, who had finally recovered from the shock of his son's appointment, heard the poem and fell into a fresh state of astonishment. His foolish son, who couldn't even speak properly until recently, could now compose poetry? Damn it, let's see who dares to say his seed is incompetent now.

At that very moment, Xiao Changqing of the Xiao family had also just received his imperial decree. He gripped the scroll tightly, his eyes gleaming. Beside him, the head of the Xiao family said, "Changqing, grain prices are soaring in both Xiacheng and Jiangcheng, yet the Emperor has sent you to Xiacheng. Do you know why?"

Xiao Changqing nodded. "If I am not mistaken, Zhang Yan is the Censor for Jiangcheng. The Emperor is testing the two of us."

"Exactly. The Emperor is finally ready to make a choice. As long as you successfully stabilize the grain prices, your position as Secretariat Drafter to the Empress should be secure. That fool is of no concern," the head of the Xiao family said with a smile.

Xiao Changqing nodded, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. *Zhang Yan, oh Zhang Yan, when it comes to governing, how could you possibly outdo me, a top-ranking scholar well-versed in literature? This time, I will ensure your defeat is complete!*

...

In the Imperial Palace, at the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Jiang Zhiwan received the box containing fifty thousand taels from a servant, along with the message relayed by Shen Qiuxue. It was clear that Shen Qiuxue had no intention of embezzling the funds.

After hearing the report, a sharp light flashed in Jiang Zhiwan’s eyes. "The gates of the rich reek of wine and meat?" She murmured.

"It seems my judgment was indeed correct," she said with a confident smile. "Father, I will prove that a woman can govern Great Wu just as well, and that I can usher in a golden age!"