Chapter 44 Wu Lijun: Magistrate An?

"Father!"

Sanxi rushed into the Listening Rain Pavilion, clutching a calling card in his hand.

"What is the meaning of this, rushing in all flustered?"

Wu Damou, who was entertaining guests, looked up at Sanxi. Given his usual temperament, he would have doled out a few reprimands upon seeing one of his household servants behave so recklessly. However, fortune puts a spring in one's step. Ever since he learned that his daughter possessed the discernment to recognize true jade and had latched onto a destined Son of Heaven, a perpetual grin graced his face. When others asked him about it, he kept mum, letting a secret joy bubble up inside his heart.

"A young master has arrived outside, sending in a calling card addressed to the young miss," Sanxi reported.

"A calling card? Let me see it."

Accepting the card, Wu Damou saw "To be personally opened by Wu Lijun" written upon it, signed at the bottom with the two characters: "Zhang An."

Wu Damou could not help a slight tremor in his hand, while the corners of his mouth involuntarily stretched all the way back to his ears. He quickly handed the card back to Sanxi. "Quick, quick, quick! Deliver this to the young miss at once!"

"Yes!"

Sanxi took the calling card and sprinted toward the inner courtyard.

"Brother Zigan, sounds like there's some good news on the horizon?"

"Judging by Brother Zigan's radiant joy, could it be that the match with the Su family has finally been settled?"

Two silk-clad merchants, exuding an air of profound wealth, teased him repeatedly. They harbored no small amount of envy regarding Wu Damou's ability to cozy up to the Su family. No matter how large a merchant household grew, it could never match the prestige of gentry and noble clans. No matter how much idle wealth filled one's coffers, without the backing of officials, a family easily became nothing more than a convenient piggy bank. Whenever those in power needed funds, they would simply smash a piggy bank, and no one ever knew whose head the hammer would fall upon next.

"No, no, no, Brother Yunyan, such talk is quite inappropriate," Wu Damou's expression turned serious as he hurriedly distanced himself from the rumor. "My Lijun merely maintains a close friendship with the eldest miss of the Su family. She remains entirely free, has never been betrothed to anyone, and has absolutely nothing to do with the Su family."

Wu Damou genuinely feared that idle gossip might spread and cause misunderstandings with the magistrate.

The two merchants exchanged glances, puzzled by Wu Damou's dramatic reaction. Yet, being tactful men, they swiftly steered the conversation elsewhere.

"Let's continue discussing the Ma family's affairs instead. The Ma family has had a rather difficult time these past few days. When I arrived this morning, I saw Ma Wenbin actually kneeling at the gates of the county yamen, begging for an audience with the magistrate!"

"Those who act wild are bound to be reined in by the heavens. Relying on his connections with people in the imperial palace, Ma Wenbin hasn't spared any pretense. Bringing himself to this state is nothing short of inviting his own disaster!"

"Brother Lan, this just goes to show that our new county magistrate is not a man to be trifled with. Even connections to the inner palace won't save you! Previously, Ma Wenbin refused to donate money himself and even suppressed the trade guilds to prevent them from contributing. Now that his Ma family has fallen, we must hasten to make up our share of the bandit-suppression funds."

"Brother Yunyan speaks truly. Our new magistrate wields ruthless methods and shows no mercy. It is best not to cross him."

"I have already instructed my household to prepare silver notes. Today, I shall go directly to the Tax Bureau to make my donation."

"Even if I have to donate a bit more, if only I could manage an audience with the magistrate—at least then I could gauge his temperament."

The two men spoke with considerable emotion.

Merchants are powerless in the face of authority. Men of commerce valued harmony above all else, fearing nothing more than having their lifelines choked by those above. Offending the magistrate would extinguish even one's "harmony," let alone the generation of wealth.

Listening to their conversation, Wu Damou could not stop himself from chuckling inwardly.

It truly paid off to have a daughter with such discerning eyes... a daughter who had recognized the magistrate early on. And possessing his own wisdom, he had eagerly donated five thousand taels of silver long ago; otherwise, he would be sitting right here, racking his brains in utter anxiety alongside them.

"By the way, Brother Zigan, how much do you plan to donate?" his two friends asked.

"To be entirely honest with you, I already met with the magistrate some time ago and made my contribution for the bandit suppression!" Wu Damou straightened his posture and slowly raised his teacup.

At these words, both men stared at Wu Damou in astonishment. "Brother Zigan, you... you have already established a connection with the magistrate?"

Wu Damou smiled without a word, merely nodding as he basked in the astonished and envious gazes of his two friends.

In the inner courtyard, Wu Lijun clutched the calling card tightly.

Inscribed upon it were the words: *"When the moon climbs above the willow tree, we meet at dusk—same old place."*

Signed: Zhang An.

"Young Miss, have some honey water."

Huan'er looked at her mistress, who stood by the window, continually gazing up at the sky in hopes that Father Sun would head home early and Sister Moon would rise sooner.

"No, no, no, I won't drink it! Huan'er, bring me my mirror box."

Wu Lijun sat down and commanded.

Huan'er fetched the mirror box and opened it. The tiered little drawers were filled to the brim with various rouges, eyebrow pencils, scented powders, combs, faux hairpieces, floral decals, hairpins, and trinkets.

"No, no, this is too garish."

"Unacceptable, there seems to be a hint of dark circles right here."

At last, an exquisite makeup application was complete.

Then, Wu Lijun began trying on different garments.

"Oh dear!"

Finally, catching sight of the sky outside, Wu Lijun let out a startled cry. "We're running out of time!"

Gathering up her skirts, she dashed outward.

"Young Miss, wait for me!" Huan'er ran along in her wake.

Stepping outside, the carriage arranged by Wu Damou was already waiting. To prevent any recurrence of bandit raids, Wu Damou had also assigned two guards skilled in martial arts, men whom four or five stout ruffians could easily approach.

"Young Miss."

"Hmm?"

"Tell me, why has master suddenly become so open-minded?"

Huan'er sat in the carriage, resting her chin in her hands, asking with a puzzled expression.

"I don't know either."

Wu Lijun was equally bewildered, for her father's transformation had been utterly abrupt.

The carriage wheels rumbled onward, and Wu Lijun's heart turned right along with them. From time to time, she lifted the curtain to check how far they had traveled.

At last, the great locust tree before the Confucian Temple came into view.

"Where is Hero Zhang? Why can't I find him?"

Huan'er lifted the front curtain, poked her head out, and searched all around.

Meanwhile, Wu Lijun's gaze had already locked onto a figure standing beneath the locust tree—dressed in a scholar's blue gown, wearing a black cap, holding a folding fan, and posing as a literary scholar. It was An Xin.

A man like jade beneath the moon.

"Brother Zhang!"

Not waiting for the coachman to lower the footstool, Wu Lijun hopped down and ran straight toward An Xin.

An Xin caught her in his arms.

Huan'er peeked at them from afar, thinking to herself: *Is that Hero Zhang? He looks nothing like one; he looks much more like a handsome scholar.*

"Brother Zhang, Father has agreed to let us be together!" Wu Lijun said, resting her head against An Xin's chest.

"Mmm." An Xin gave a soft nod.

"Brother Zhang, was this because of you?" Wu Lijun asked, raising her head. For Brother Zhang's demeanor had been far too calm, as if he had known all along.

Combining this with her father's sudden change of heart, Wu Lijun had already pieced something together. Thinking back to Brother Zhang's attire tonight, she asked, "Brother Zhang, are you a scholar?"

An Xin grasped her hand. "Jun'er, Zhang An is not my real name. I made it up when I encountered the bandits."

Wu Lijun gripped An Xin's hand tightly, listening intently.

"An Xin. That is my name."

*"An Xin... tranquility and peace..."* Wu Lijun murmured the name.

She felt the name was strangely familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.

Suddenly, she lifted her head in shock. "Magistrate An?"