Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 849 - 847_1

Shangguan Xuanhao was delighted. He stepped forward and patted Shen Chengyao’s shoulder, "Marquis Shengping, rest assured, I will definitely look after Jingrui."

The emperor glanced at his son subtly: why is he so happy? Probably thinking he can now relax! And return to doting on his grandson for his medicine!

The old man is busy every day! He doesn’t even have time to hug his grandson, yet his son lives as he pleases with endless freedom! What’s going on!

These lands need multiple sons to build together in the future, but him, as the elder brother, always running all over the place, all around famous mountains and rivers, picking herbs, leading his younger brothers astray! Each one’s like a centipede, having too many legs and always running around! Only the old man handling this massive family business! Wouldn’t they feel guilty!

The emperor feels this can’t go on, or else even Xiao Qi would follow the wrong path. Now, Xiao Qi always says that he will grow up in a few years and go out to explore the world just like his elder brothers.

One by one, they don’t love the nation, they love beauties, they love freedom, how can this be! If this continues, the country would cease to be a country!

He must shape them up. Thus, the emperor said, "Shen Aiqing is extraordinarily capable, having him be a small county magistrate would be a huge waste of talent!"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Xuanhao sensed an impending doom. He felt his father, the emperor, was about to enslave him again!

Indeed, the emperor continued, "I appoint Shen Aiqing as the Magistrate of Nanyue Prefecture, and our respected King will be the county magistrate of Zhenyang County!"

"..." The civil and military officials were caught off guard! A prince becoming a county magistrate, could there be such a thing?

What? The lower jaw of Shangguan Xuanhao was about to drop in disbelief! freewёbnoνel.com

"Father Emperor, who did you just say is going to be the county magistrate of Zhenyang County? Was there someone named Xian Wang (rhymes with King Xian in Chinese) among the people recommended just now?" Shangguan Xuanhao persisted in asking, unable to accept what he heard.

The civil and military officials cast a sympathetic look at King Xian after hearing this, and then shook their heads to indicate that there was no one by that name.

"Don’t doubt it. The person I spoke of is indeed you!"

Shangguan Xuanhao felt as if he had been struck by lightning.!

He finally found his voice, "Father Emperor, such thing has never happened before!"

"You just have to be the pioneer!" said the emperor, deriving satisfaction from his son’s suffocating expression.

"But how can I, a dignified prince, become a county magistrate?" Shangguan Xuanhao deeply regretted not going out with his wife and children alongside Shangguan Xuanyi to enjoy nature. His life in the Imperial Capital was simply unbearable!

"Who said a prince couldn’t be a county magistrate? You’re a prince, and you still want to be an imperial doctor! Besides, you reign over that territory, it’s not a big deal for you to take on more work and manage it, is it?

"But I could be a magistrate while Shen Xiuzhuan could be the county magistrate!" He, a dignified prince, was going to hold a position lower in rank than a compiler at the Hanlin Academy. How could he safeguard his dignity? Most importantly, Zhenyang County was in such a mess. He was not good at cleaning up such messes!

"There’s nothing to argue about. The national treasury is empty, so you’ll take on two positions to help me save on salary expenses!"

What? No salary? Please, he was very short of silver! Wasn’t he the poorest among his four brothers?

Working without pay was unjust no matter how you looked at it!

However, he didn’t really care about a county magistrate’s salary, he’d rather find someone else to deal with this hot potato!

"Father Emperor, I will take care of the salary for the office of the county magistrate of Zhenyang County, and you may find another person for it! Isn’t it a huge waste of talent for me, your son, to be the county magistrate of Zhenyang County?" Shangguan Xuanhao was veering dangerously close to disaster with this comment!

"A waste of talent? Fine, you’ll be both the magistrate and the county magistrate then! There are many things that demand my attention and I wasn’t very keen on Shen taking up the post of Magistrate. I’d rather have him stay by my side to lend assistance."

Both the magistrate and the county magistrate?

Shangguan Xuanhao felt a strong desire to die, he said with a face full of distress, "Father Emperor, my skills are limited, I’ll just be the county magistrate!"

If Shen Jingrui were the magistrate, he could help manage Zhenyang County. However, if Shen Jingrui weren’t even going to be the magistrate, to whom could he turn for help!

The emperor watched as his son took on a look of utter desolation, and his discontent from the past few days dissolved.

Shangguan Xuanjun looked at his second brother’s grief-stricken face, feeling that he should hurry to his fief as soon as his princess gave birth. Their father was growing old and seemed to derive enjoyment from tormenting them!

The civil and military officials cast covert sympathetic glances towards King Xian. It was bad luck for the king to be burdened with this kind of emperor as his father!

Everyone then turned their gaze towards Marquis Shengping, thinking how incredibly lucky he was! Nobody knew why their family was constantly under such fortune!

Initially, when Jingrui willingly resigned from his much-coveted position of compiler at the Hanlin Academy to become a mere county magistrate in a backward and remote place, everyone thought his brain was pinched by the door! But against everyone’s expectations, the emperor simply appointed him as the Magistrate of Nanyue Prefecture! This steep elevation from a sixth-rank to a fourth-rank official position made many others green with envy! Had they known the emperor intended for King Xian to be the county magistrate of Zhenyang County, they should have jostled for the position like Marquis Shengping!

However, once the officials told their wives about this event, many of the wives who had previously set their sights on him were secretly relieved that he was already engaged. If they were to arrange a marriage between him and their daughters, their daughters either would have to suffer in desolate lands or stay behind in the Imperial Capital to serve their in-laws and endure a lonely life. Either situation was less than ideal.

Xiao’er and Shangguan Xuanyi learned of these changes in the imperial court very quickly. When Xiao’er found out Jingrui’s desire to become a county magistrate in Zhenyang County turned into becoming a Magistrate, she wasn’t too surprised.

She knew that Jingrui wanted to do something for the people. He must start from the bottom, the closest to the common people. Starting from the bottom will be more helpful for him in the future.

Now he’s young, everything is not in a hurry, as long as the foundation is well laid, the building can be built higher, and people can go further!

But Shangguan Xuanhao is going to be the county magistrate of Zhenyang County?

Xiao’er, upon hearing the news from Shangguan Xuanyi, couldn’t help laughing: "I wonder where the second emperor brother offended the emperor, so the emperor has to teach him like this?"

"Probably because he was obviously delighted when he heard Jingrui wanted to go to Zhenyang County as the county magistrate! The emperor, all his life, is diligent and loves his people. He couldn’t stand those who loaf on the job, always thinking about becoming an imperial doctor, and the emperor has long wanted to teach him a lesson!" It must be said that Shangguan Xuanyi hit the nail on the head!

He continued to open a confidential letter, then took out some medicinal liquid, smeared it on the paper, and restored the text. After reading the letter, he put the letter on the candlestick and burned it.

"Xiao’er, the Emperor has agreed to let me handle the matter of Gong Qinghua abducting you. We will reach the border of Nangong Country tomorrow. Isn’t the Emperor of Nangong Country’s birthday coming up? Let’s give them a big present!" said Shangguan Xuanyi, his eyes narrowing. If you dare to act, you must dare to admit it. He wanted Gong Qinghua to pay the price for his actions!