latelenovela Chapter 517 Haven’t you heard of my name?
Chapter 517 Haven’t you heard of my name?
As soon as he entered the city, Zhong Ning felt something different.
It was also a heavy rain, but because Xining City had repaired its drainage facilities, the water did not accumulate on the streets.
However, the accumulated water in Xiyan City was at least knee-high.
At this time, the heavy rain had stopped and a light drizzle was falling from the sky.
Many people were trapped in the water and burst into tears as they looked at the dilapidated buildings in front of them.
Among them, a woman holding a child was hiding under the eaves and shivering. The child's face had already turned ashen and there was no sign of life at all.
The woman's eyes were filled with despair, and no one knew what she was thinking.
Zhong Ning leaped onto the roof and looked down at the entire city from above. Soon, she leaped all the way to a higher place in Xiyan City.
It was on a hillside. Along the hillside, you could see more than a dozen large blue brick and tile houses not far away. The houses were exquisite, and there were several rows of horizontal boats in front of the doors.
At the top of the hillside, there is a pavilion. Several guards wearing raincoats are on duty outside the pavilion, while inside the pavilion, about four or five middle-aged men with neat clothes, elegant short beards, are drinking and writing poetry.
Down the hillside, a flood caused by heavy rain and river backflow was raging. Many people were lying on the hillside in tattered clothes, their lives unknown.
Zhong Ning's eyes were bloodshot. She had thought that there might be some problems with the post-disaster situation in Xiyan City, but she never thought that the situation would be so serious.
Zhong Ning leaped again and jumped into the county magistrate's office. Due to the terrain of Xiyan City, there were extremely high steps where the office was built, which just kept the flood out of the gate.
The threshold of the inner courtyard is also very high to prevent rainwater from flowing into the house. Judging from the newness of the threshold, it seems that it was replaced not long ago.
Zhong Ning stole into the back hall, only to see two yamen runners rowing a boat to the county yamen with a report: "Sir, we just went to check on Mr. Liu's family. Their house is located on higher ground and was not affected by the heavy rain!"
"Okay, that's good!" Yang Ting put his hands behind his back and looked serious, but looking at his expression, it was obvious that he was waiting for the follow-up.
As expected, the yamen runner came forward and took out a newly written article by Mr. Liu from his pocket and handed it to Yang Ting, saying respectfully, "Sir, Mr. Liu said that he was deeply moved by your concern for him despite your busy schedule. He was inspired to write this article. Please take a look at it!"
Yang Ting took it with a smile and read it carefully in the light from the window. After finishing, he burst into laughter and said modestly, waving his hands: "You are too kind, too kind. I was just doing my job!"
"Sir, everyone in this world knows that you are deeply loved by scholars. Your reputation is known throughout the world. Which scholar would not want to be your disciple?" A man in a blue-gray official robe echoed with a smile.
"Lord Wang, you are too kind..." Yang Ting laughed even more happily. Then he tilted his head slightly and said softly, "It is all thanks to everyone's kindness. I am unworthy of it, unworthy of it!"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the room burst into praise. Then, Wang Zhubo added, "Ah, I, Xiyan, am fortunate to have received such an upright and great magistrate as you, after sending away that scoundrel!"
Yang Ting's eyes flickered slightly, and he smiled and stroked his short beard, saying, "I just returned to the capital to report on my work, but I never expected to be suddenly dispatched here to take over the affairs of Xiyan City. It also happened to be a natural disaster, and I'm overwhelmed. After the disaster is over, I'm afraid I'll have to start implementing reforms!"
"Sir, why do you need to trouble yourself?" Wang Zhubo waved his hand lightly, and a servant came over with a brocade box in both hands. Inside the brocade box was the tax account of Xiyan City.
Wang Zhubo took the account and introduced it, "The land and population situation of Xiyan City are all here. Your Excellency only needs to take a look to know the details."
"This is inappropriate! According to Princess Zhaohua's opinion, after taking office, the land should be re-surveyed and the household registration should be checked..." Yang Ting hesitated.
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhubo immediately advised, "My Lord, my Lord...Princess Zhaohua is far away in Xining. All she needs is an account book. What is written in this account book, isn't it still you who has the final say?"
"Besides, Xiyan City is close to Kyoto, and most of the fields in the city belong to the private lands of the officials in the court. If you offend them..." Wang Zhubo smiled and threatened subtly, "I'm afraid your future will be in jeopardy..."
Well, that’s true!
Yang Ting stroked his short beard and frowned slightly. Princess Zhaohua was just a woman after all. Although she was a princess, she was destined not to be the king.
Why would he offend all the officials in the court for a little princess?
"Minister Wang is truly thinking of me..." Yang Ting said, "I must not offend the officials in the court lightly, otherwise my career will be over..."
Wang Zhubo smiled shrewdly and flatteringly: "Your Excellency is wise!"
"Heh..." A light laugh suddenly appeared, shocking everyone. Yang Ting even stood up and shouted loudly, "Who dares to be so presumptuous here?"
Zhong Ning spun around and stood behind Yang Ting in just a moment. He then kicked Yang Ting's knee and sat down on the chair.
Yang Ting was kicked so hard that he turned around in embarrassment.
His eyes were filled with rage. He wanted to see who was so bold as to plot against him?
Then he saw a woman with stunning appearance, wearing a purple robe with tight sleeves and gold thread trim, which was very neat and clean.
She was now sitting on the high chair he had just sat on, tapping the back of the chair unconsciously with her fingers, staring at him with a half-smile.
"You, you are..." Yang Ting had a bad guess in his mind, but he still insisted on asking. However, Wang Zhubo was not so kind and directly scolded Zhong Ning:
"Where did you come from, you bitch? How dare you act so wildly in the Xiyan City County Government Office? Don't you even know where this place is? You're seeking death by offending our masters?"
With a slap, Zhong Ning moved his fingers slightly and slapped Wang Zhubo in the air. A red mark in the shape of a big hand suddenly appeared on his face.
Yang Ting was now feeling even more uneasy. He asked with a trembling voice, "Who are you?"
"Lord Yang, have you never heard of my name since you took office here?" Zhong Ning said lightly, and the answer in Yang Ting's heart was confirmed.
His body went limp and he immediately knelt on the ground in panic.
"Your Majesty, Yang Ting, pays homage to Her Royal Highness the Princess!" Although Yang Ting didn't know why Princess Zhaohua suddenly appeared here, he had just licked her in person and was feeling very nervous at the moment.
"Lord Yang is indeed a good official praised by scholars. Is this how you provide disaster relief when a torrential rain falls?"
"Your Highness, I don't know what you mean..."
"Don't know?" Zhong Ning's eyes turned slightly cold, and with just one palm he knocked the man into the yard. The sound, accompanied by his internal force, resounded over the entire county government office.