The Whole Dynasty Spoils the Tyrant's Beloved Youngest Daughter-Chapter 405: Really Think She’s Somebody Now
Jun Ning came here and, seeing the difficult situation, did not say much but expressed her opinion. However, Jing Shu couldn’t hold back.
The little girl muttered a barrage of complaints, then leaned into Jun Ning’s arms and quietly sobbed, her frail shoulders trembling, as if blaming Emperor Yongning’s arrangements, yet also lamenting that she said she was here to help, but couldn’t help with anything.
Jun Ning comforted Jing Shu for a long while before she stopped crying.
Due to Jing Shu’s extraordinarily fair and thin skin, her eyes had a touch of pitiful red after crying.
Jun Ning felt particularly distressed, and couldn’t help but tighten her arm around Jing Shu’s shoulder.
Even after arriving at the place arranged by County Magistrate Li, Jun Ning did not let go of Jing Shu’s hand.
From stepping off the carriage to following County Magistrate Li into the flower hall reception area, she always held Jing Shu’s hand, occasionally observing Jing Shu’s expression to see if her sorrow had passed.
Off to the side, County Magistrate Li was busy helping Jun Ning settle in. Seeing Jun Ning and Jing Shu seated, he commanded the maid to quickly serve tea.
The tea was the finest pre-rain Longjing. As soon as it was served, Jun Ning smelled its fragrance and discerned what kind of tea it was.
This tea is expensive. In the Imperial City, ten taels of silver per pound, enough for an ordinary family to scrimp and save for a year. Average households truly can’t afford it.
Yet, a mere county magistrate can afford it?
Jun Ning observed County Magistrate Li thoughtfully.
County Magistrate Li saw the main characters who came to repair the river dam were just two beautiful and innocent girls, Jun Ning and Jing Shu. His previous worries and fears vanished instantly.
Two inexperienced little girls, how could they possibly repair a river dam? How could they investigate the local poverty?
Preposterous!
Giving them some candy, taking them around to play and sightsee, then saying some pleasant words to placate them, they would naturally forget all serious matters.
And in the blink of an eye, the few months of the dam repair assignment would pass.
Whether the dam was repaired or not, they would have to leave.
Just two little girls, very easy to handle.
Thinking of this, County Magistrate Li couldn’t help but curl his lips in a smile, feeling truly delighted.
Jun Ning did not overlook the consideration and secret delight on County Magistrate Li’s face. She sneered inwardly and said, "County Magistrate Li, Yuyang County is so impoverished, I think it’s not just because of the dam or the flooding. There should be other reasons, right?"
County Magistrate Li did not expect Jun Ning to suddenly ask this. It caught him off guard, and he was somewhat surprised by Jun Ning’s keen intuition and ability to pinpoint crucial issues.
Jun Ning continued, "Tomorrow, I will inspect the accounts. Whether or not you sleep tonight, I must see Yuyang County’s account books first thing in the morning. Especially the County Magistrate’s office and the details of public income and expenditure, they must be available and detailed. Hurry and prepare!"
"This..." County Magistrate Li was momentarily stunned, but quickly returned to his normal state, "Princess Anle has been through a long journey, and now has just arrived in Yuyang County. It’s not advisable to exert yourself. Please listen to me, let’s rest for a few days first? Tomorrow, I will host a banquet and invite Princess Anle to attend, would you honor us?"
As he spoke, County Magistrate Li took out a few candies he had prepared for coaxing the little girls and handed them to the nearby maids, signaling them to give them to Jun Ning and Jing Shu.
When the maid put the candy into Jun Ning’s palm, she saw the maid looking at her with fear, afraid she wouldn’t accept it. So Jun Ning didn’t refuse and took it.
Jing Shu originally sat silently in the Taishi Chair without saying a word, but seeing the maid trying to put candy into her hand, her eyebrows furrowed, she said in strong rejection, "I don’t like candy."
Jing Shu made quite a commotion.
Just because she doesn’t like candy, she actually pushed down the maid offering them.
The maid didn’t care about the painful sensation in her buttocks after being pushed down, anxiously glanced at County Magistrate Li beside her. County Magistrate Li signaled her to retreat, and she quickly got up and left.
Jun Ning, on the other hand, looked at Jing Shu with distress.
Everyone in the room had different thoughts, the atmosphere becoming a little delicate.
To break this impasse, County Magistrate Li laughed and said, "It doesn’t matter if the young lady doesn’t like candy. The Yuyang County has many delicious local snacks. The princess and this young lady, having always lived in the Imperial City, surely haven’t seen them. Tomorrow, I’ll have my wife take you to shop and buy them."
County Magistrate Li was very generous, "All expenses will be on my account."
"Mr. Li is indeed generous," Jun Ning mocked, then immediately said, "My princess came here not for leisure or indulging in eating. No need for Mr. Li to change the subject with these matters. I repeat, the account books, I must see them tomorrow."
County Magistrate Li wanted to say something else when Jun Ning directly looked at the Chief Guard Chao Jiu who came with her, "Chao Jiu, show him out..."
Show him out?
County Magistrate Li was stunned.
The house where Jun Ning was staying was his spare residence.
His own house, yet he was being shown out?
"Please?" Chao Jiu gestured politely at County Magistrate Li, but County Magistrate Li did not move for a long time, looking bewildered.
Chao Jiu said somewhat displeased, "What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and leave."
This tone was heavy, not like dismissing an official, but rather like dismissing a servant.
There was no choice, Chao Jiu was a member of the Imperial Guard, had served by Emperor Yongning’s side before. What kind of officials hadn’t he seen? Encountering difficult, shameless, and seemingly fierce ones, if he wasn’t fiercer, he couldn’t get rid of them or do his job well.
After years and years, he naturally developed this aura.
Very fierce, everyone feared him.
But Jun Ning didn’t fear him. When seeking Emperor Yongning, she occasionally even joked with Chao Jiu. Chao Jiu would neither refute nor respond, but would protectively escort her to see Emperor Yongning with a smile.
Seeing they got along well, Emperor Yongning let Chao Jiu accompany Jun Ning on this trip.
County Magistrate Li was shouted into silence by Chao Jiu. Never had a guard dared to treat him like this? Chao Jiu was the first, but seeing Chao Jiu was from the Imperial City, specially protecting Jun Ning, and Jun Ning’s identity was unusual, being the emperor’s most beloved daughter.
He couldn’t afford to create conflict with the princess on the first day of meeting her.
He paused for a moment, then regained his composure, saying humbly, "...This guard, please don’t be angry, I... I will leave now..."
...
Just as County Magistrate Li stepped out of the residence’s door, he spat at the door behind him, "Bah, just some brat who knows how to be born well, really thinks she’s someone important? Without her father, what would she be? Acting important? Be careful not to annoy me, or I’ll kill her quietly."
