“It’s me. How does the Vice County Magistrate know my name?”
Xiao Jingduo paused for a moment and then asked, “Magistrate Chen—is he your father?”
“Yes, he is my father. What happened to him?”
Xiao Jingduo remained silent. Chen Ci also realized something. She staggered to her feet, looking around anxiously.
Destroying the Tai Li Sect’s stronghold—such a major event—how could the county magistrate, the highest authority in the county, be absent? If he wasn’t here, there could only be one explanation.
“My father… when did he pass away?”
…
“Lady Chen, are you all right?”
Outside Magistrate Chen’s residence, Qiu Ju cautiously knocked on the door. Xi Qi, even more anxious, pressed her ear against the door, afraid to miss any suspicious sound.
With a creak, the door opened from the inside. Xi Qi, caught off guard, nearly stumbled inside.
“Careful!” Chen Ci quickly supported Xi Qi, who, with the help of Qiu Ju and Chen Ci, stood up and smiled awkwardly. “Lady Chen, are you feeling better?”
“My father is gone, and there’s no way to bring him back. Even if I were to seek death myself, what good would it do?” Chen Ci gave a bitter smile. “Besides, Vice Magistrate Xiao has already captured my father’s murderer, and that villain Qi Ling has been severely punished. I have no regrets anymore. If anything, I only regret that I couldn’t fulfill my filial duty beside my father and let him pass away all alone.”
As she spoke, her voice choked with emotion. Qiu Ju looked at her with concern. Chen Ci wiped away her tears and forced a smile. “Father surely wouldn’t want to see me crying like this. I won’t cry anymore.”
“Sigh… Miss Chen…”
…
“Assistant Magistrate Xiao, what will happen to Miss Chen now?”
In the outer courtyard, others were asking about Chen Ci’s situation.
Xiao Jingduo sighed deeply. “Magistrate Chen is dead. Miss Chen has no parents or brothers, so she will have to stay at the county office for now. I have already submitted a report to the imperial court. Once they find Magistrate Chen’s relatives, I will immediately arrange for an escort to return Miss Chen and her father’s remains to their hometown.”
“That’s all we can do for now.” The registrar and others sighed. “Who would have thought that the so-called ‘immortal master’—bah!—Qi Ling would turn out to be such a person? He deserves to die a thousand times over. But it’s the innocent girls who suffered that I pity the most.”
“Exactly. He was truly heartless. First, he had an old servant poison Magistrate Chen with kudzu flowers. After that, he even stole the butcher Feng’s knife and hacked Magistrate Chen several times, then threw the knife beside the body in an attempt to frame the butcher. Hmph, did they really think they could fool the government so easily?”
Not long ago, these very officials had been muddling through their duties, but now they were boasting arrogantly. Xiao Jingduo took a sip of tea, pretending not to hear them. These men continued to flatter each other until they felt satisfied and finally stopped.
Though they held official positions, they had never been respected by the people of Jinjiang County. No one listened to them, no one followed their orders—it had been a frustrating existence. But now, after cracking the Tai Li Sect case, they had finally had their moment of prestige before the citizens. Not to mention, their achievements could now be prominently recorded in their career histories. The county officers were elated, even walking with a newfound swagger over the past few days.
As their conversation continued, they soon shifted to the upcoming official evaluations.
“Vice Magistrate Xiao, the annual evaluation is coming up in October. What are your thoughts?”
Every year in October, all officials had to undergo a performance review. Officials in Chang’an were evaluated by the Ministry of Personnel, while those in other regions were assessed by the governor of their province. The governor’s evaluation would then be sent back to Chang’an, where the Ministry of Personnel would decide on promotions, demotions, and reassignments accordingly.
Xiao Jingduo and his colleagues were all officials of Jiannan Province, and according to regulations, they had to go to Chengdu Prefecture for their performance evaluations. Xiao Jingduo had set out from Chang’an in June and arrived in Jinjiang County in August. He had then been occupied with the county magistrate case and the “immortal traces” case. By the time he finished writing the reports for both cases, it was already October, and the performance evaluation was fast approaching.
Performance evaluations were crucial for an official’s career. Based on the year’s governance achievements, evaluation results were classified into nine ranks, from Shang Shang (Excellent-Excellent) to Xia Xia (Poor-Poor). The top two ranks, Shang Shang and Shang Zhong (Excellent-High), were rarely awarded, mostly appearing only in official records. Those who received Xia Shang (Poor-High) could be promoted two levels, Zhong Shang (Average-High) earned a one-level promotion, and Zhong Zhong (Average-Average) meant no change in rank. However, receiving any grade below Zhong Zhong was disastrous, as officials would be demoted step by step.
For example, Xiao Jingduo was currently at the lower eighth rank. Official ranks ranged from Proper First Rank at the highest to Lower Ninth Rank at the lowest, with ranks below Proper Fourth Rank further divided into upper and lower tiers, making a total of thirty ranks. If he received a Xia Shang evaluation, he would be promoted two levels. However, if his evaluation was poor, not only would he not be promoted, but he could also be demoted.
Since performance evaluations were conducted only once a year and had a direct impact on an official’s career, there was no room for error. In the past, officials in Jiangzhou had even concealed natural disasters to secure good evaluations. While the officials of Jinjiang County did not dare to go that far, they were nonetheless anxious about the upcoming evaluation.
However, Xiao Jingduo had only recently entered officialdom and had only been in office for about two months. He had no reason to worry about the evaluation—he was too new to expect a promotion, but also too new to face demotion. To him, this trip to Chengdu Prefecture was merely a formality.
The imperial court took performance evaluations very seriously. Before November 15, every prefecture had to submit their local officials’ assessment papers to the Ministry of State Affairs. As a result, by October, officials from across Jiannan Province were heading to Chengdu Prefecture to participate in the evaluations overseen by the prefectural governor.
Jinjiang County, where Xiao Jingduo was stationed, and even its superior prefecture, Rongzhou, were barren and desolate places. Chengdu Prefecture, however, was entirely different. It was a city of blooming flowers, renowned as the “Brocade Official City”, and incomparable to the remote Jinjiang County.
Suppressing his feelings of bitterness, Xiao Jingduo temporarily stayed in the official residence assigned by the prefectural governor. A career in officialdom inevitably involved socializing, so on his second day in Chengdu, his colleagues from other prefectures invited him out for a drink.
After three rounds of toasts, the gathered officials gradually relaxed and began discussing the upcoming evaluations and affairs of the imperial court.
“Did you all hear? There’s word from Chang’an these past few days—the Emperor’s health seems to be failing.”
Xiao Jingduo sobered up instantly. “Is this true?”
“Absolutely. My cousin, who holds office in Chang’an, sent word advising me to take this year’s evaluation seriously and not be careless. Who knows? By next year, the dynasty might change hands.”
“What do you mean ‘take it seriously’? We all want to do well!” The group erupted in complaints and murmurs.
After a while, someone hesitantly asked, “Then… what is the current situation in the capital?”
“I don’t know. My elder brother only said that His Majesty’s health is failing. The Six Ministries and the Grand Councilors are on standby in the palace at all times, and most of the government’s decrees are now issued from the Eastern Palace.”
“Wow.” The officials gasped in astonishment. The fact that the Crown Prince was already overseeing state affairs meant that the situation in the capital had become dire. The Emperor’s condition must be much worse than they had imagined.
Xiao Jingduo had not expected this. When he attended the Tanhua banquet in Chang’an in April, the Emperor had looked tired but still seemed to be in good spirits. He never would have thought that things had deteriorated to this extent.
“The Crown Prince is diligent and wise. Over the years, he has governed flawlessly and even achieved remarkable successes. The ‘Ghost Soldiers’ case, the Huige spies, and the recent Jiangzhou case—all were handled under his name. It’s certain that in the future, his accomplishments will be even greater.”
The officials present all nodded in agreement. They were cautious about discussing matters concerning the imperial family, especially anything related to the future ruler. Until the situation became clear, it was best not to leave behind any remarks that could be used against them. So they spoke in vague terms, ensuring that as long as they understood each other, that was enough.
“In the future, his accomplishments will be even greater.” But now, he was already the Crown Prince—what greater accomplishment could there be? He had held this title for nearly ten years, and everyone in the court and beyond had witnessed his actions. Putting aside factional disputes, it was widely acknowledged that the Crown Prince was a capable heir and would one day become a wise ruler. During the Emperor’s reign, both internal and external conflicts had been largely pacified, proving that the golden age of the Da Xuan dynasty rested upon the Crown Prince’s future rule.
Having been away from the capital for several months, this was the first time Xiao Jingduo had heard news about the Crown Prince and the Eastern Palace. These matters, which were common knowledge in Chang’an, felt strangely distant after leaving the city. Hearing these familiar names now, he suddenly felt as if he had traveled across mountains and rivers and was once again standing in the towering capital of Chang’an.
But the very next moment, the thick Jiannan dialect of an official’s voice pulled him back to reality. One of the officials, already half-drunk, slurred, “If it really is the Crown Prince, that wouldn’t be too bad. But no matter how capable he is, he has one major flaw—I heard that he dotes excessively on his eldest daughter, to the point that he doesn’t even avoid her when handling government affairs.”
“She’s just a young girl. In two or three years, she’ll be married off. What harm can a little indulgence do?” another official scoffed.
Perhaps it was due to the prevailing martial spirit of the era or because the wives of certain Grand Councilors had set a precedent, but the noblewomen of the Xuan dynasty were known for being fiercely jealous. The imperial princesses themselves were not jealous, but their behavior was… reckless.
Because of this, most of the officials present did not see the Crown Prince’s affection for the Princess Yangxin) as a big deal. She was just a princess—if she was a little willful, so be it. After all, it was not their problem to deal with.
“Sigh, whoever ends up as her husband is going to suffer.”
As the conversation grew more outrageous, it eventually touched on the imperial women. Xiao Jingduo found himself increasingly displeased, but as a newcomer to the bureaucracy, his rank and experience were far inferior to those of the other officials present. All he could do was issue a warning: “Mind your words.” Beyond that, he had no authority to say anything else.
He felt angry, but what frustrated him even more was that he didn’t even know why he was so angry.
Xiao Jingduo’s inexplicable low mood persisted all the way back to Jinjiang County. Qiu Ju and the others had originally come out happily to welcome him, but the moment they saw his expression, they didn’t dare to speak.
As it turned out, Xiao Jingduo was not someone who lost his temper indiscriminately. Qiu Ju and Xi Qi were not blamed in any way, and Chen Ci was able to rest and recover peacefully in the back courtyard. The only ones who suffered were the clerks at the front of the county office, who spent five days wailing in misery.
Xiao Jingduo had every reason to be strict. The year was coming to an end, meaning taxes, criminal cases, and household registrations all needed to be verified and recorded. Moreover, due to the Tai Li Sect incident, every county official with ties to the sect had been dismissed, leaving the county office suddenly short of half its staff. With these crucial year-end tasks still pending, the remaining officials had no choice but to work overtime to make up for the loss.
Although they grumbled, none of them truly resented Xiao Jingduo. He was harsh in his demands, but he himself was the busiest of them all. With no county magistrate in place and a shortage of staff, Xiao Jingduo took on multiple roles, handling nearly half the workload alone. The chief registrar had caught sight of him multiple times late at night, still working in the council hall. If even a newcomer like Xiao Jingduo was working this hard, what excuse did the more experienced officials have? They had no choice but to grit their teeth and push through.
Everyone believed that once spring arrived and the imperial court appointed a new magistrate and staff, they would finally be able to breathe easy.
At last, after racing against time, the officials of Jinjiang County managed to complete their work before the New Year holiday. Xiao Jingduo sent the finalized reports to Rongzhou, then finally allowed himself to take a breath.
The Xuan Dynasty was considerate toward its officials, offering a rest day every ten days and various additional holidays throughout the year. The most important break was the New Year holiday—seven days before and seven days after the New Year—meaning that from the Grand Councilors to the lowest-ranked officials, everyone got nearly half a month off.
With the county office on break, Xiao Jingduo finally had time for himself. He spent his days reading and playing chess, but Qiu Ju wasn’t satisfied with him staying indoors all the time. She tried every possible way to get him to go outside and relax.
One day, as Xiao Jingduo was studying military strategy in his room, he suddenly heard Qiu Ju’s voice.
She stood at the doorway, holding something in her hands and gesturing toward him. “My lord, look at this.”
She held up a finely crafted window decoration. Even Xiao Jingduo, who had never cared for such things, found it exceptionally beautiful. He smiled faintly and praised, “It looks wonderful. Did you make it?”
“Madam Chen taught me.” Qiu Ju beamed. “My lord, you’re eighteen this year. Happy New Year.”
Laughter rang out from outside. Xiao Jingduo glanced through the window and saw Xi Qi and Chen Ci sitting in the side room, holding bright red paper cuttings, smiling in his direction.
Chen Ci had been living at the county office for two months and had long since grown close to Qiu Ju and the others. She was sincerely grateful to this young assistant magistrate before her. Over the past few days, she had noticed the weight on Xiao Jingduo’s mind and how his mood had been heavy. So she did everything she could to help him relax, hoping to bring him a little peace.
In this peaceful and harmonious atmosphere, Xiao Jingduo’s mood gradually calmed. Seeing that he finally had a hint of a smile, Qiu Ju felt satisfied and left. After she departed, the room returned to silence. Xiao Jingduo’s eyes remained fixed on the scroll in front of him, but his thoughts had already drifted back to Chang’an.
These past few days, he wondered how things were in Chang’an. It was a critical time of imperial transition—was Rong Ke still doing well?
However, Jiannan was simply too far from Chang’an, and information traveled slowly. Even when the Ministry of Personnel’s year-end evaluations were sent out to the provinces, Xiao Jingduo still had not received any news from the capital.
But by then, no one in Jinjiang County had the mind to care about affairs in the capital. It was as if a thunderclap had struck the county, sending everyone into an uproar.
The assistant magistrate of Jinjiang County, Xiao Jingduo, had performed outstandingly, solving two major cases in succession. With the previous magistrate’s passing, the Ministry of Personnel had now officially decided—Xiao Jingduo was to be promoted to county magistrate of Jinjiang County, with the rank of Zheng Seventh Grade, Upper Rank.
If you enjoy my translations, feel free to consider supporting me on ko-fi! Thank you!
