Chapter 55: Mother, Is the Top Scholar Really Smiling?

The fifth day after Xiao Mo returned to Stone Bridge Village.

Magistrate Sun came looking for Xiao Mo.

Magistrate Sun clearly knew about Bai Ruxue being "taken away by an immortal," and he also knew that after Xiao Mo, being such a person who valued emotions and righteousness, returned and found Bai Ruxue gone, his heart would surely be very troubled.

Returning home in glory, but the most important person was not there.

"Sigh," whenever Magistrate Sun thought about it, he couldn’t help but sigh for Xiao Mo.

So for the past few days, Magistrate Sun had not come to disturb him.

By the fifth day, Magistrate Sun felt that Xiao Mo’s emotions had perhaps settled somewhat, so he carefully came to inquire about Xiao Mo’s ceremonial parade.

As for the three words "Bai Ruxue," Magistrate Sun naturally did not mention them at all.

Xiao Mo also knew that the top scholar’s ceremonial parade was an ancient custom of the Qi Kingdom. If he didn’t go, it would be disrespectful to the magistrate and would have no small impact on his future political career.

So Xiao Mo naturally agreed.

"Xiao Mo, you don’t need to prepare anything. Leave everything to this official. I’ll make sure you have a glorious time!"

At first, Magistrate Sun thought there might be no chance of this happening.

Actually, even if Xiao Mo didn’t participate in the parade, Magistrate Sun wouldn’t blame him, after all, Magistrate Sun knew how deep Xiao Mo’s feelings were for that Miss Bai but hearing Xiao Mo agree to the parade, Magistrate Sun was naturally very happy!

The day after tomorrow at dawn, the procession to welcome the top scholar arrived at the entrance of Stone Bridge Village.

Young girls dressed in festive clothing entered Xiao Mo’s courtyard to dress him in the top scholar’s ceremonial robes and place the large red flower on him.

The villagers escorted Xiao Mo out of the village, then followed behind the top scholar.

Everyone in Stone Bridge Village had changed into their new clothes.

Among them, old village chief Wang was especially happy.

Influenced by Xiao Mo, Village Chief Wang had been recruited by Magistrate Sun as a clerk.

When Xiao Mo was received in Qingshan County, the streets were already lined with people, all wanting to catch a glimpse of the top scholar’s demeanor.

"Mother, why does the top scholar look like he’s not very happy?" A little girl riding on her mother’s neck pointed at the top scholar and said.

"No, the top scholar looks quite happy. Look, the top scholar is smiling," the girl’s mother said.

"Really?" The little girl bit her finger and tilted her head, "Is the top scholar really smiling?"

In June, the imperial appointment came down. Xiao Mo was appointed as magistrate of Jianshui County in Liuyun Prefecture, Liangzhou, to take office immediately.

For a top scholar, this starting point was indeed somewhat low but no one thought Xiao Mo would not be valued.

On the contrary, having a top scholar serve as magistrate of a remote prefecture county was a sign of first suppressing then promoting, focusing on cultivation.

"Little Green, do you want to stay here?"

Before leaving Stone Bridge Village, Xiao Mo went up She Mountain and asked Little Green.

"Mm-hmm." Little Green nodded, "That Elder Fuchen from Tianxuan Sect taught me some techniques. I want to cultivate here and wait for sister to wake up."

"Good." Xiao Mo nodded, "If anything happens, go find Magistrate Sun and have him notify me."

"Don’t worry, Brother Xiao. Nothing will happen," Little Green nodded.

"I’m leaving."

"I’ll see Brother Xiao off."

Little Green escorted Xiao Mo down the mountain.

When Xiao Mo left Stone Bridge Village, all the villagers and Magistrate Sun came to see him off.

Magistrate Sun patted Xiao Mo’s shoulder, "Xiao Mo, having you serve as magistrate of an ordinary county in Liangzhou is Old Master Zhang’s intention."

Xiao Mo’s eyes slightly widened, and he nodded, "This junior understands."

"Do well. Your future prospects are limitless." Magistrate Sun didn’t need to say more, smart people understand with just a hint.

"Thank you for your support all these years, Magistrate Sun." Xiao Mo expressed his gratitude.

"Safe travels. This official awaits your brilliant performance in the imperial court." Magistrate Sun looked at this young man with some reluctance.

Xiao Mo bowed deeply, boarded the carriage, and set off to take office in Jianshui County.

"Father, why didn’t you mention my marriage arrangement with him?" After Xiao Mo left, Miss Sun walked over dissatisfied, "That Miss Bai has gone to cultivate. Can’t I be the top scholar’s wife?"

"Stop making trouble!" Magistrate Sun tapped his daughter’s head.

After arriving in Jianshui County, Xiao Mo didn’t immediately go to the government office but stayed at the local inn for several days.

From the local people’s mouths, Xiao Mo learned about the previous magistrate’s reputation, whether there were any local tyrants in the county, what famous prominent families there were, and what the heads of households’ personalities were like.

After understanding everything, Xiao Mo could only sigh that being magistrate of Jianshui County was indeed not easy.

Having learned enough, Xiao Mo went to the government office, completed the handover procedures, and officially took office.

Xiao Mo immediately gathered the county office’s core team, expressing a humble attitude of "newly arrived, relying on everyone."

Others felt that although this top scholar was young, he was sensible and could work with them to make money but they soon discovered they were wrong.

Xiao Mo began reviewing household registers, fish-scale maps, revenue and grain ledgers, criminal case files, and official archives.

Then in the government office and county, he supported some while suppressing others, fostering those who supported him.

He established rules, bestowed favors, audited revenue and grain, reviewed criminal cases, reorganized corvée duties, and eliminated wasteful expenses.

He supported local prominent families while also suppressing them, using both the stick and the carrot.

Soon Xiao Mo established his own authority.

In less than four years, Jianshui County’s politics, if not crystal clear, at least had no one daring to act arrogantly.

There was a children’s song that went:

"Sun shines bright, clouds drift by. Jianshui County, lucky star arrives. Magistrate Xiao, skills so high. Builds canals, bridges the sky. Beats the wolves, protects the lambs. Solves cases clear as autumn’s eye. Reduces taxes, plants new shoots. Granaries full, joy throughout. Writes with ink, peace he brings."

After five years in office, Xiao Mo was transferred from Jianshui County and promoted to Xueyang Prefecture in Qingyang State.

On the day of his departure, the people escorted him for ten li, all weeping and trying to make him stay.

Before heading to Xueyang Prefecture, Xiao Mo first returned to Stone Bridge Village to visit old friends and the new magistrate.

The previous Magistrate Sun had also been promoted, mainly because Xiao Mo had mentioned Magistrate Sun favorably several times in his correspondence with Zhang Qianzhi.

Xiao Mo came to She Mountain to visit Ruxue and also to see Little Green.

Little Green had grown much taller now and had the demeanor of a young lady.

However, Little Green’s cultivation level couldn’t match her sister’s. Currently, Little Green’s realm should be at the Dragon Gate stage.

Little Green had thought that after five years, Brother Xiao would have already married a wife, but Brother Xiao had not.

"Over these years, has Brother Xiao had any beloved?"

In the courtyard, Xiao Mo and Little Green rarely had a meal together.

Xiao Mo shook his head and smiled, "Official duties have been too busy. I haven’t had time to think about such things."

Little Green lowered her head, "Brother Xiao, if sister were here, she wouldn’t want you to remain lonely forever either."

Xiao Mo said nothing, just served Little Green some food, "Eat more. I feel like after four or five years of not seeing you, you’ve gotten thinner."

Little Green’s mouth opened slightly, wanting to say something, but in the end she just closed it.

A few days later, Xiao Mo took office in Xueyang Prefecture as Deputy Prefect.

The Prefect of Xueyang Prefecture was very courteous to Xiao Mo.

Everyone knew Xiao Mo was Zhang Qianzhi’s disciple, which meant he was the current Prime Minister’s junior brother, and he was also favored by His Majesty. His examination poems "Prelude to Water Melody: When Will the Bright Moon Appear " and " Rhapsody on Chunli Palace" had spread throughout the Qi Kingdom.

It was even said that the current "Grace Distribution Edict" originally came from Xiao Mo’s hand.

Not to mention that over the years, Xiao Mo’s reputation had been excellent. The people escorting him for ten li had become a celebrated story, and His Majesty had long known about it.

Xiao Mo’s future prospects were limitless!

In the first few months as Deputy Prefect, Xiao Mo basically familiarized himself with local affairs, befriended local prominent families, and understood the personalities of his subordinates and superiors.

He spoke little and listened much.

After Xiao Mo felt ready, he formally took charge.

Xiao Mo was humble in character, usually appearing as an elegant scholarly gentleman but when Xiao Mo got to work, he was swift and decisive, even quite unconventional.

In Xiao Mo’s second year as Deputy Prefect, a great epidemic struck Xueyang Prefecture!

An unknown plague spread throughout Xueyang Prefecture. Those infected all suffered fever, nausea, vomiting, pustules on their bodies, and finally died from diarrhea.

The Prefect of Xueyang Prefecture had truly never encountered such a situation and was immediately panicked.

Xiao Mo stepped forward to take charge, sealing off counties with patients, allowing entry but not exit.

All supplies could only be delivered to the city gates, then transported in by people from within the city.

Xiao Mo had gathered medicinal herbs for a living since childhood and had read medical books when he grew up, so he understood some medicine.

He personally went to examine the symptoms, and after finding the cause, Xiao Mo implemented measures requiring cold water to be boiled before drinking, separating infected individuals by zones, and establishing various epidemic prevention guidelines.

Medical cultivators sent by the imperial palace arrived at Xueyang Prefecture and provided solutions, but the herbs in their prescriptions were too expensive. Expensive herbs meant fewer quantities, so many people couldn’t use them.

So Xiao Mo actively sought alternative medicinal herbs and personally tasted hundreds of herbs with that medical cultivator.

Since the medical cultivator was there, he wouldn’t die from eating them.

Finally, Xiao Mo extracted elements from "white bark flowers" that had excellent effects on the illness!

During this nearly half-year period, Xiao Mo slept less than two and a half hours each day, drilling into the patient areas whenever he had time.

That medical cultivator was already prepared to treat Xiao Mo if he got sick but Xiao Mo just didn’t get sick.

Although Xiao Mo had the fortune of mountains and rivers, such fortune didn’t protect officials from death or disease.

It could only be said that his luck was truly very good.

After five and a half months, the plague in Xueyang Prefecture was completely dispersed.

Everything Xiao Mo did was seen by the people.

The people spontaneously erected living shrines for Xiao Mo.

Although Xiao Mo was only the second-in-command of Xueyang Prefecture, in most common people’s hearts, they had forgotten who the first-in-command of Xueyang Prefecture was.

As for the Prefect of Xueyang Prefecture, he naturally had no objections.

Because he knew that Xiao Mo’s future achievements would not be in local government, but in the high halls of the court.

Xiao Mo refused several times, but the people just wouldn’t listen.

So throughout Xueyang Prefecture, living shrines were erected everywhere, with statues of "a scholar holding a book scroll in one hand and medicinal herbs in the other."

Xiao Mo could clearly feel more and more of the mountains and rivers’ fortune blessing upon him.

"The Yellow River’s waters come from heaven, flowing to the sea never to return."

Once, to test his official arts, Xiao Mo specifically went to slay a fierce beast in Xueyang Prefecture.

As Xiao Mo finished reciting this poem, the sky split open, revealing the phantom waters of the Yellow River, directly crushing that fierce beast to pieces but afterward, Xiao Mo felt that quite a bit of the mountains and rivers’ fortune on him had dissipated. It took several days before it recovered to its original level.

Two years later, the former Prefect of Xueyang Prefecture was transferred to Qingyang State capital, and Xiao Mo became Prefect of Xueyang Prefecture.

During Xiao Mo’s three years of governance, Xueyang Prefecture had good administration and harmonious people. Every household left doors unlocked at night, and no one picked up lost items on the road.

The people of Xueyang Prefecture hoped Prefect Xiao could continue serving forever.

In Xueyang Prefecture, Prefect Xiao was like an existence comparable to a clear blue sky but what puzzled many people was this.

Prefect Xiao was already in his twenties, well past the age when he should have married but why was Prefect Xiao always alone?

Actually, many prominent families in Xueyang Prefecture were also puzzled, thinking Xiao Mo hadn’t found a suitable partner, so they all introduced their daughters to Xiao Mo but Xiao Mo politely declined them all.

Later, more and more stories about Xiao Mo spread among the people.

It turned out that Prefect Xiao came from a poor family, not even counting as a humble family background.

Prefect Xiao had a childhood sweetheart. The two were innocent companions who grew up together, depending on each other.

After they grew up together, Prefect Xiao achieved scholarly success, but his childhood sweetheart left with immortals to cultivate, creating a separation between immortal and mortal realms but Prefect Xiao continued to wait for her return, unwilling to marry other women.

"Prefect Xiao’s story" spread wider and wider, even being written into popular novels by many scholars and widely circulated.

Faced with these embellished stories, Xiao Mo found them quite amusing and exasperating.

"Master, the osmanthus tea you requested, we’ve bought it for you."

At the Xueyang Prefecture’s prefectural residence, while Xiao Mo was reading, two maidservants carrying two packages of tea walked into the courtyard.

"Mm." Xiao Mo flipped through the book pages without looking up, "Did you pay for it?"

"Yes, Master, we paid," Caidie nodded.

Wangyue added, "At first, Shopkeeper Li didn’t want to accept payment, but after we insisted, we finally reached an agreement."

"That’s good. You may go."

"Yes, Master." The two maidservants curtsied and put down the tea, but they didn’t leave immediately, instead pushing each other around.

Xiao Mo looked up at Caidie and Wangyue, "Do you have something else?"

"No," Caidie quickly shook her head, "This servant has nothing."

Xiao Mo smiled, "Then why are you standing there not leaving?"

"This servant..." Caidie’s face reddened as she gathered courage, "Master, this servant... may this servant ask you something?"

"Mm."

Wangyue quickly said, "Master, recently there have been rumors saying Master has a childhood sweetheart who joined an immortal sect, and Master hasn’t married because he’s waiting for her return. Is this true?"

Actually, it was only because Caidie and Wangyue felt their master was approachable that they dared ask such questions but this didn’t mean they didn’t respect Xiao Mo. On the contrary, they felt their master was the best man in the world.

The books described a modest gentleman, gentle as jade, and he was just like that.

Xiao Mo shook his head, "Those rumors are too far-fetched. Not much of it is true."

"Then Master, why haven’t you married yet?" Both maidservants looked puzzled.

Xiao Mo smiled, rolled up his book, and tapped each of their heads once.

"Because, there’s a very foolish woman who fell asleep."

"I’m waiting for her to wake up."