Can't a girl be a traitor like Cao Cao?

The imperial envoys who participated in the inspections in various places, apart from the rich and beautiful places like Suzhou, Hangzhou and Nanjing—especially the inspections in places like the southwestern border regions of Hunan—were undoubtedly a hard and unpleasant task that no one wanted to go to.

But not everyone has the opportunity to visit the Southern Capital of Suzhou and Hangzhou.

Since no one volunteered, the only option was for officials from various departments to draw lots to select candidates to become imperial inspectors in these places of exile.

Among all the imperial envoys, Guo Shentong was probably the unluckiest.

Imperial envoys who went to inspect various places were usually selected from officials of the fourth or fifth rank in various departments.

Because officials of slightly higher rank often hold multiple positions, all of which are important and substantive duties.

Originally, this matter had nothing to do with Guo Shentong, who was only a sixth-rank official, but he had been promoted very quickly during this period.

It's unclear whether it was because someone gently patted him on the shoulder that his promotion speed skyrocketed like a rocket.

In just half a month, he, who was only a minor clerk in the Ministry of Rites, had successively served as a principal officer and a junior official.

He has now been promoted to the rank of Assistant Minister of Rites, a fourth-rank official.

He might be able to rise further, but all the higher positions are already filled by one person per position.

Moreover, he has only been granted the rank of physician and has not yet assumed any real position.

For such a person to be selected by the Ministry of Rites to serve as an inspector in an outlying region would be the best possible outcome.

As a result, Guo Shentong was entrusted with an "important task" and was "selected" to participate in the tax reduction inspection work.

Chapter 252 My Legs Are a Little Numb

After setting off from the capital, Guo Shentong patrolled along the southwest line.

During their journey, they passed through several counties and were treated with the utmost respect throughout.

He received many gifts along the way, which helped to soothe his wounded heart.

Arriving in Xiangshui County at this time, things remained the same.

As soon as the carriage and horses landed, local officials prepared expensive gifts and ceremonies for him and invited him to the best restaurant in the county to welcome him and wash away the dust of his journey.

As soon as he got downstairs, he saw the local officials, both chief and deputy, bowing to him with utmost respect.

Guo Shentong introduced himself to the two men and, after learning their names, casually nodded.

Then two people led the way, smiling obsequiously and appearing extremely respectful.

Making such a gesture is only natural.

After all, although Guo the Prodigy and the Prefect of Xiangshui County were both fourth-rank officials, their prestige was completely different.

Guo Shentong was a Beijing official, which was naturally one and a half levels higher than local officials, not to mention that he was also an imperial inspector with the emperor's mandate.

Let alone a minor prefect, even a high-ranking official like the governor of Xiangdi Prefecture, a third-rank official, would have to put on a smiling face when he saw him, for fear of offending him.

Therefore, it was considered extremely fortunate for the two of them that Guo Shentong was even giving them a friendly look at this moment.

As they walked down the aisle of the restaurant, Prefect Mao Qingyan, with a forced smile, secretly slipped a silver note from his sleeve to Guo the Prodigy.

"This is just a small token of my respect."

Guo Shentong glanced at him with a hint of surprise, then looked at Li Yi, who remained silent to the side.

Unexpectedly, this prefectural assistant was more sensible than the prefect.

Then he waved his hand and said, "Hey, I'm afraid that's not appropriate..."

Despite saying that, Guo Shentong still waved slightly to the servants behind him.

So Mao Qingyan secretly slipped the silver notes to the servant, a relieved smile on his face.

Afterwards, Guo Shentong swayed his round body and, accompanied by the two men, went to the most luxurious banquet hall on the top floor of the restaurant.

He glanced around casually and immediately noticed the magnificent and opulent place. He thought to himself that it was truly remarkable that such a grand restaurant existed on the shores of the small Dongting Lake. One cannot judge a book by its cover.

Holding a banquet here would probably cost a hundred taels of silver.

At this moment, two county officials stepped forward and said to Guo the Prodigy, "Your Excellency, please take a seat at the table!"

The prefect also led Guo the Prodigy across the threshold into the banquet hall.

Guo Shentong turned his head and glanced around, only to find that many people were already seated in the guest seats.

They all looked like wealthy people dressed in luxurious clothes.

Guo Shentong was also very experienced and knew that these people were none other than the major clans in Xiangshui County.

This banquet might have been hosted by these very people, an invitation to the imperial envoy, Guo Shentong.

In this way, the prefectural government would not have to spend any more money on hospitality, which was a common practice for local officials to deal with the inspectors.

However, with just a casual glance, Guo Shentong noticed a figure standing out in the crowd.

It appeared to be a woman, dressed in red.

His demeanor was somewhat out of place with those around him.

Guo Shentong felt that this woman didn't seem like a wealthy man from this area, and she was also too young.

Normally, even if a young woman is accompanying someone at such a banquet, she wouldn't wear such an eye-catching outfit.

So Guo the Prodigy couldn't help but take a closer look.

But upon closer inspection, it seemed increasingly familiar, and I was certain I had seen it somewhere before.

Then the woman smiled slightly, a playful expression on her face.

This smile immediately matched someone in Guo Shentong's memory.

A thunderbolt immediately struck his mind!

There's no way I could mistake this face; it's more familiar than my own mother's!

But... but...

How could she possibly be here?

Why am I encountering...this sir, in this place?!

The three county officials standing nearby immediately looked puzzled when they saw the imperial envoy suddenly standing still.

Mao Qingyan then tentatively asked, "My lord?"

At this moment, the woman in red who had remained silent in Hui's seat stood up, cupped her hands in greeting to Guo the Prodigy, and said with a smile, "Isn't this Prodigy Guo? It has been more than a few months since we parted in the capital. I never expected to meet you here. What a coincidence!"

Guo Shentong only came to his senses when he heard her voice. And he became even more certain that he had not made a mistake.

He immediately adopted a respectful expression, almost kneeling down as if to say, "Your Majesty—"

"Oh dear, it seems Lord Guo has recognized me?"

Chi Junlin interrupted him with a smile, "Yes, I am Lin Jun, the eldest disciple of Tong Yan, the sect leader of the Sword Harmony Sect."

Guo Shentong was taken aback upon hearing this, and asked with some confusion, "Tong Yan?"

Chi Junlin smiled and said, "I haven't mentioned it to you before, but my master is the current leader of the martial arts alliance, Tong Yan. He was elected by a group of martial arts heroes at the martial arts conference held by the Lou family in Nandu."

It's understandable that Lord Guo, having been in the capital these past few days, is unaware of these recent events.

Hearing Chi Junlin say this, Guo Shentong gradually realized what was going on.

He immediately understood that Chi Junlin wanted him to cooperate in concealing his identity, so he nodded knowingly and said with a smile, "Oh, I see... I understand. Hmm... Lord Lin Jun."

Chi Junlin then showed an approving expression and nodded to Guo Shentong with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the county officials and the clansmen standing nearby all showed expressions of surprise.

Unexpectedly, this woman from the martial arts world named Lin Jun actually knew the imperial envoy from the capital.

This seems somewhat coincidental.

At this moment, Mao Qingyan's expression also shifted slightly, as if he was beginning to reassess the threat level of these "Jianghu figures" in the Hui family's household.

However, he quickly composed himself and said to Guo Shentong, "We can talk about catching up later. Please take your seats and begin the banquet, sir."

Upon hearing this, Guo Shentong cast an inquiring glance at Chi Junlin.

Only after receiving Chi Junlin's barely perceptible nod did he, guided by Mao Qingyan, sit down in the main seat.

However, sitting in his own seat and looking at Chi Junlin sitting in the lower seat, he felt somewhat uneasy.

To think that a mere junior official in the Ministry of Rites would presumptuously sit in the main seat before the Great General... that's just plain reckless...

Soon after, Guo Shentong couldn't help but stand up from his seat and awkwardly retreat to the side.

"Sir, this is..."

The people in the banquet hall were somewhat at a loss.

Guo Shentong wiped the sweat from his face and laughed, "My legs are a little numb from sitting in the sedan chair for so long, I'm just walking around to stretch them out..."

"Oh, I see……"

Everyone felt that this imperial envoy seemed a bit unusual, both in physique and personality...

However, when Mao Qingyan saw that Guo Shentong was standing alone, it seemed a bit inappropriate for him to sit, so he stood up with him.

Seeing everyone looking at him, he smiled and said, "My legs are numb too, let me walk with you for a bit and stretch them up..."

Chapter 253 The Allure of That Slap

Chi Junlin looked at Guo Shentong, who had stood up and seemed a little uneasy, and couldn't help but smile.

Guo Shentong couldn't quite understand the meaning behind Chi Junlin's smile, which inevitably made him feel nervous.

He was afraid that his sudden appearance might disrupt some of Chi Junlin's plans, so he couldn't help but raise his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

At this moment, Mao Qingyan was beside Guo Shentong, chatting with him at length about the local customs and culture, the outstanding people and beautiful scenery, as if Xiangshui County were a rare land of fish and rice.

Guo Shentong naturally had no interest in chatting with Mao Qingyan about such trivial matters, because his attention was entirely focused on Chi Junlin.

He pondered why Chi Junlin had appeared here and what he intended to do.

Unfortunately, it wasn't convenient to ask her for advice privately at this time.

So it would be good if you could ask a couple of probing questions.

Thinking of this, Guo Shentong noticed that Chi Junlin was sitting in a place surrounded by people from the local clans, and suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him.

He then coughed lightly and said, "I came all the way from the capital, and everywhere I went, I found the food inconvenient. It was only when I arrived in Xiangshui County that I found my appetite greatly improved."

Moreover, the restaurant's environment is excellent; I was delighted to see it, as if I were at home.

This place must have been carefully chosen by the villagers, right?

Upon hearing that Guo Shentong seemed quite satisfied with the restaurant, Mao Qingyan immediately showed a delighted expression.

He then boasted to Guo the Prodigy, "That's right, I personally selected this place and funded the banquet with the local gentry."

Upon hearing this, Guo Shentong thought to himself, "Just as I thought."

He then revealed a "kind and amiable" smile and said in the direction of Chi Junlin, "This is truly a trouble for the villagers to spend money. I am very satisfied with this meal."

"I wonder what requests you gentlemen have for the court? Please feel free to raise them now, and I will do my best to fulfill them."

Guo Shentong's words seemed somewhat abrupt, as the restaurant had only just begun serving the dishes.

So they all looked at each other in bewilderment.

Mao Qingyan was slightly puzzled, feeling that the attitude of this "Imperial Envoy" was quite strange.

I'd never heard of any particular dietary preferences from this prodigy Guo before. Why is he so happy so soon after arriving?

He couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Then a thought struck him: Had he given the proper gift just now?

At this moment, Chi Junlin realized the implication in Guo Shentong's words and thought to himself that this child was indeed clever.

So he turned to look at Hui Ziheng and said softly, "Since Lord Guo has said so, if you have anything to say, please speak frankly."

Hui Ziheng received encouragement from Chi Junlin and saw the expectant look in Guo Shentong's eyes.

Although Mao Qingyan had warned us not to discuss the bandit suppression at the banquet, bringing it up now would likely incur Mao Qingyan's wrath.

But the opportunity before me might be unique.

So, steeling himself, he said to Guo the Prodigy, “Your Excellency is unaware that although our Xiangshui County appears to be peaceful and prosperous, it is actually suffering from severe flooding.”

In the Dongting area, there was a gang of bandits who called themselves the Water Gang, who had been committing all sorts of evil deeds and oppressing the local people for many years.