Transmigrated into a female county magistrate during a famine, leading her country to prosperity

Chapter 1163 The Assistant Surveillance Commissioner

Fang Xianyue's answer deeply shocked Liu Pei and also earned Shen Zheng's appreciative look: "Your name is Fang Xianyue? How many years have you been working at the government office?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, this is my sixth year as a clerk in the Household Department," Fang Xianyue replied, bowing his head.

Shen Zheng leaned back slightly, paused for a moment in thought, and then said directly, "From now on, you will serve as the Deputy Clerk of the Household Department. Do a good job."

"pat-"

The booklet in Fang Xianyue's hand fell onto the table.

He only spoke his mind a few times, and Lord Shen promoted him?!

Thinking of the long-vacant position of Deputy Clerk in the Household Department, he subconsciously looked at Liu Pei and said nervously, "Lord Shen, I only said a few words following the meaning of the document, how could I..."

“I didn’t write those words you said in the register.” Shen Zheng interrupted him directly, gesturing for him to sit down, and then said, “From now on, you will be in charge of recording the income and expenditure of the student aid fund. The source, destination, and recipient of each fund must be clearly listed.”

After saying that, Shen Zheng looked at Liu Pei, who looked nervous, and deliberately asked, "Liu Pei, I have appointed Fang Xianyue as my deputy clerk. Do you have any objections?"

At this moment, Liu Pei was still regretting that he had said the wrong thing earlier, so he dared not have any objections.

He hurriedly replied, "In my humble opinion, your exceptional reading ability makes you perfectly suited for the position of Deputy Clerk..."

Shen Zheng nodded and looked straight at him, saying, "In any case, you are all people of the government. I hope you can put your minds together and work towards the same goal... I won't say more. You know what I mean."

Upon hearing this, Liu Pei broke out in a cold sweat.

Lord Shen is targeting him...

He immediately straightened his back and declared, "Rest assured, sir, I will work together with Xianyue to ensure the new regulations are implemented as soon as possible!"

“Alright.” Shen Zheng took a sip of tea and put the booklet back on the table. “That’s all for today. Lord Xu will discuss the rest with you in detail later.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Pei and the others rose to take their leave, but as they reached the hall door, they suddenly remembered something they had overlooked—the Ministry of Revenue was not given a single copper coin.

Liu Pei jolted awake, grabbed Fang Xianyue, and whispered with winks, "The national treasury!"

"Ah..." Fang Xianyue also realized what was happening and stood hesitantly at the doorway: "S-Should I go down and talk?"

He's just been promoted; he can't very well go against the higher-ups...

Liu Pei wiped the sweat from his brow, his voice even lower: "I just displeased the magistrate and was punished by being made to stand. How dare I go? Brother, the magistrate still sees you're warm enough, so please help out our household registration office. Go, go..."

Fang Xianyue became conflicted.

But before he could decide whether to go, Xu Yunyan's voice came over: "Do you two have something else to say?"

"No...no, yes! Yes!" Liu Pei didn't know what was wrong with him; his mouth moved even faster than Fang Xianyue's. He turned his head and said, "Lord Xu, about the embezzled funds..."

“If the magistrate says not to give to the national treasury, then so be it. You can all put it into the government treasury.” Xu Yunyan stood beside Shen Zheng, his voice calm: “From now on, the tax silver that our Liuyang Prefecture gives to the Ministry of Revenue will be no less than that of the embezzled funds.”

Liu Pei clicked his tongue in amazement upon hearing this.

How arrogant Lord Xu is...

If the prefectural government fails to produce any significant achievements in the coming months, it risks being ridiculed and mocked by other prefectural governments...

Filled with trepidation, Liu Pei and Fang Xianyue left the council hall and headed towards the household office.

Halfway there, a constable hurried past them.

"Tuk-tuk-tuk-"

There was a knock on the door of the council hall, and a yamen runner stood at the door and reported, "Lord Shen, someone from the Fuzhou Provincial Surveillance Commission has arrived."

Shen Zheng was engrossed in writing out the "Detailed Rules for Literacy Cultivation" when she heard this, and immediately stopped writing.

......

Half an hour later, in the study.

A man of about thirty years old and of extremely tall stature bowed to Shen Zheng and said, "This humble official, Liu Yumin, the Assistant Inspector, greets Lord Shen."

Assistant Inspector?

Shen Zheng pondered inwardly that although the rank of the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner was not high, only the sixth rank, his actual power was considerable.

This person can not only monitor the conduct and governance of local officials, but also preside over the trial and review of cases in the prefecture, and supervise various tasks issued by the provincial judicial commissioner.

To put it simply, the person in front of him was Xin Shunyun's confidant.

Thus, Shen Zheng understood Xin Shunyun's attitude towards the re-examination—if Xin Shunyun did not allow the re-examination, he certainly would not have sent his confidant. Since he sent his confidant, it meant that he intended to help with the re-examination.

Thinking of this, Shen Zheng was no longer in a hurry and introduced Xu Yunyan, who was standing next to him, to him: "Liu Qianshi, this is the clerk of the prefectural government, Lord Xu Yunyan, who is also the registrar of Tongan County."

Xu Yunyan bowed in greeting: "This humble official, Xu Yunyan, greets Lord Liu."

Before arriving at the government office, Liu Yumin had already ascertained the identity of Shen Zheng's companions and knew that this Xu Jingli was appointed by the Emperor himself, so his expression was also somewhat polite: "Lord Xu."

After exchanging pleasantries, Liu Yumin got straight to the point.

He took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Shen Zheng with both hands, saying, "Lord Shen, this is Lord Xin's reply. Before I came here, Lord Xin specifically instructed me to leave the letter at the Liuyang government office after giving it to you, and to await your instructions."

"Lord Xin... wants you to stay in Liuyang Prefecture?" Shen Zheng took the letter, a guess forming in her mind.

Liu Yumin nodded and stood aside waiting for her to read the letter.

Unfolding the letter, Shen Zheng was struck by the elegant calligraphy. She sighed inwardly, realizing that Xin Shunyun had mastered excellent calligraphy.

Almost simultaneously, she thought of Xin Ji again. While reading the letter, she said to Liu Yumin, "It's quite a coincidence. Two days ago, when I was escorting Lord Yu out of the city, I happened to meet Young Master Xin Ji at Liuyang Post Station."

Wise people always know when to stop and get to the point.

Thinking of Xin Ji's usual conduct, Liu Yumin knew that Xin Ji had probably gotten into some trouble again.

He lowered his head and frowned, his voice slightly helpless: "When I return to my residence, I will definitely report this matter to Lord Xin."

Shen Zheng paused, then looked up with the letter between her fingers and said, "Liu Qianshi has misunderstood. I had no intention of filing a complaint."

Actually, she was just complaining.

Before Yu Zhengqing set off, he specifically instructed her to make sure to expose Xin Ji's actions to Xin Shunyun in order to test Xin Shunyun's words.

After all, Xin Ji was quick to threaten to "make things difficult" for others. If this were true, not only would he be in trouble, but even his father, Xin Shunyun, would be in deep trouble.

Thinking of this, Shen Zheng secretly observed Liu Yumin's expression.

"Lord Shen, what are you saying?" Liu Yumin's face flashed with embarrassment as he lowered his head and said, "Young Master Xin's temperament..."

He paused, but ultimately didn't say anything harsh. Instead, he said tactfully, "Young Master Xin's temperament has already caused you great concern, so I hope he hasn't offended you."

Seeing his expression, Shen Zheng roughly understood Xin Shunyun's attitude towards Xin Ji. She smiled but didn't say anything, and looked down at the letter.

But the contents of the letter far exceeded her expectations.