Chapter 119 - 85: Fairy, Don’t Be Impulsive

Chapter 119: Chapter 85: Fairy, Don’t Be Impulsive

In the blink of an eye, another three days had passed.

Throughout Qingyang County, the officials in charge of compiling the census lists were working feverishly.

They gave every appearance of being determined to carry out the Court’s decree.

Governor’s Mansion.

Zhang Delv unhurriedly brewed some tea. "Your Highness, although this water is drawn from a local well, a great power from long ago specially marked several hollows for the Array’s foundation that can negate the influence of the ruins.

This well was dug in one of those hollows. It’s a deep well, and its water is sweet and crisp, no less refreshing than a mountain spring.

You may drink it without worry. Simply enjoy a pleasant stay for a few days, and then you can return to Lingge to report."

"I’ve been in your care these past few days, Lord Zhang."

Zhao Yong smiled, took a sip of tea, and remarked with a sigh, "Excellent tea!"

Zhang Delv stroked his beard, looking quite pleased with himself as he serenely enjoyed the fine afternoon.

Zhao Yong suddenly asked, "By the way, Lord Zhang, it seems Lao Shi has been quite active these past few days!"

Stroking his beard, Zhang Delv chuckled. "The Tenth Prince cares for the common people, so it’s only normal for him to be busy. My men have shown him much of the census compilation work. It’s truly commendable that the Tenth Prince wishes to oversee everything personally."

Zhao Yong’s brow furrowed slightly. "If that’s the case, could any problems arise?"

Zhang Delv waved his hand with a smile. "They won’t! With things as they are in Qingyang County, the Tenth Prince shouldn’t suspect anything in the villages and towns.

Besides, he’s a stranger in a strange land. Even if he really did want to inspect the villages, my men would be the ones taking him there, deciding where he goes.

The Northern Three Prefectures are vast. The Tenth Prince can’t possibly cover it all."

Only then did Zhao Yong nod. "A brilliant insight, Lord Zhang!"

Zhang Delv clasped his hands in a gesture of humility. "Your Highness, you flatter me!"

The two exchanged a smile and both took a sip of tea.

Just then.

A constable came running over. "My lord, there’s a situation!"

Zhang Delv’s brow tightened. "Spit it out!"

The constable hesitated. "These past few days, while I was in Chiling County for a joint investigation, I suddenly noticed a group of colleagues asking about the whereabouts of Kan Luotang. I thought it was strange, so I asked them who was looking for her, but none of them would say."

"Kan Luotang? You mean Grand Scholar Kan’s granddaughter, Fairy Luotang?"

Zhang Delv sounded displeased. "Plenty of people in the Northern Three Prefectures admire her. It’s hardly strange for someone to be asking after her. You’re reporting something like this to me?"

The constable quickly clasped his hands. "It’s just that I found their tight-lipped demeanor strange. And with the timing of it all, I was worried something might go wrong, so I..."

Zhao Yong suddenly cut in, "You’re right! If this matter isn’t handled properly, the consequences could indeed be severe!"

"Hm?"

Zhang Delv was taken aback. "Your Highness, you mean..."

Zhao Yong’s expression looked a little unnatural. "I know who’s looking for Miss Luotang."

"Who?"

"Lao Shi."

"This..."

Zhang Delv’s expression turned grave. He suddenly felt that this Tenth Prince was not so simple after all.

’At first, I saw him bustling about the city and thought he was just running around aimlessly. I never expected it was all a smokescreen. He was actually looking for Kan Luotang’s help all along.’

’Luckily, my reach in the Northern Three Prefectures is absolute. If I’d only found out at the very end, it would have been a huge problem.’

He quickly wrote a letter, stamped it with his personal seal, and handed it to the constable. "Relay this order!"

The constable’s face paled slightly as he read the letter’s contents, but he still clasped his hands and said, "Yes, my lord!"

Then he hurried away from the Governor’s Mansion.

Zhao Yong’s face darkened. "Lord Zhang, how do you intend to respond?"

Zhang Delv pondered for a moment, then smiled faintly. "The Northern Three Prefectures have been quite busy lately. The task of compiling the census lists has been remarkably effective, so it should be wrapped up as soon as possible."

Zhao Yong nodded. "Excellent!"

...

The lands north of Lingge were mostly desolate, with only three prefectures standing guard over one another like the points of a horn.

Aside from Qingyang County, the core of the Array, Huangjing County and Chiling County also administered numerous villages and towns. These densely packed population centers together formed the foundation of this massive Grand Array.

And the environment in these two counties was considerably harsher than in Qingyang County.

As the sun set, in a town under the jurisdiction of Chiling County, crowds of men carrying hoes and game hurried home.

The economy of the Northern Three Prefectures had always been poor. Even in the towns, the main sources of income were farming, hunting, and fishing. Apart from a few large marketplaces, they were really no different from large villages.

Through the dusky gray sky, the light of the setting sun lacked its usual warmth.

But set against the wisps of cooking smoke, it still managed to create a somewhat warm and tranquil feeling.

Usually at this time, they would all be heading home for dinner.

But today, they had gathered in an open area in the south of town, and their normally sallow faces were flushed with a long-unseen rosy glow.

Because today, someone they were all quite familiar with had come to town.

From a distance, the young woman who habitually wore a white dress could be seen holding a clinic alongside the town’s physician.

Even the town’s top official, Fan Li Zheng, was there with his subordinates, smiling as he helped out.

"Fairy Luotang is here?"

A hunter who had just returned to town said with pleasant surprise, "Perfect, I just caught a rabbit today. I’ll go give it to the Fairy."

A farmer next to him stopped him. "Don’t! Outsiders can easily get an upset stomach from our local game. Are you trying to make the Fairy sick?"

"You’re right! Let’s go take a look first. It seems the Fairy has come earlier this year than usual."

"Isn’t that the truth? My wife is practically bursting with joy. I heard something big is happening recently, so the Fairy was in a hurry and is only staying for half a day."

"What? Only half a day? With this long line, does that mean I can’t get my old, stiff leg looked at?"

"Probably not today. But the Fairy said that after she finishes her important business, she’ll hold clinics just like in previous years, so there’s no need to rush. Today is mainly for severe and urgent cases."