"Traveling this far to see me, I canāt help but feel these people have something on their minds," Ye Ziāan thought for a moment and said, "Refuse them, telling them Iām here for personal matters and wonāt accept visits from officials. Let them return and do their work properly. While in office, they must not leave their posts without permission. For this time, let it slide, but if it happens again, donāt blame me for not covering up for them."
"Yes!"
At the Liao City post station, several officials from Xining Prefecture were staying here.
Upon receiving Ye Ziāanās reply, they were quite excited, but after opening it, their excitement faded.
"What do you all think?" the Prefect of Xining asked.
"This Ye Ziāan seems different from others. Why doesnāt he accept visits from people like us?" The Prefectural Magistrate of Xining, an old and crafty man, stroked his long beard and said, "Normally, officials coming from the Capital City like to accept our visits. Itās only in the local areas that they can show their authority."
"Youāre mistaken, old brother," the Prefect of Xining said, closing the invitation. "Ye Ziāan is a genuine member of the royal family; even in the Capital City, people try to curry favor with him. He has no need to seek favors from locals. His refusal of our visitations suggests he doesnāt want too much contact with us."
"Could it be that heās really investigating our Xining Prefecture?" the Magistrate said. "The matters in Liangchuan and Yunchuan are still fresh in our minds. There are rumors that wherever Ye Ziāan goes, a storm follows. Officials in other prefectures have ordered strict vigilance on various routes, fearing that Ye Ziāan might suddenly arrive in their regions and catch them unprepared."
"Now that heās in Xining, claiming heās here for personal matters, what personal matters does he have to deal with in Xining?" The Prefectural Magistrate of Xining was quite puzzled.
"Why are you asking such a question?" The Prefect of Xining shook his head. "Why he came to Xining is exactly the reason weāve come to Liao City. Now that he doesnāt wish to contact us, we canāt pry. However, knowing in advance of his arrival gives us an edge over other prefectures; at least we have enough time to smooth out accounts and erase traces."
"I think you all are overthinking. Whether we cover it up or not doesnāt matter much. Unlike other prefectures, we havenāt embezzled or accepted bribes. Weāve merely collected a little extra during festival times. Besides, we always reciprocate the festival gifts. Whatās there to worry about?" The Academic Administrator, a man in his thirties and younger than the others, said boldly.
"Iām not worried about that," the Prefect of Xining said. "What Iām worried about is that matter. If it gets uncovered, not only us but our entire families would be doomed."
The gravity of the situation could range from mere cowardice to outright treason.
Once that issue was brought up, they all fell silent for a moment.
"I suggest we return to the prefecture. As things stand, Ye Ziāan is unlikely to meet us. Perhaps we should return and have our wives come, as itās been said that Ye Ziāanās wife is also in Liao City. Women are not versed in politics and might unknowingly reveal some information."
The old Magistrate paused and spoke harshly, "If he truly came for personal matters, we should assist him if we can, to earn some goodwill. But if he came for us? Hmm, then heād leave Xining upright, but might exit horizontally."