Transmigrated to the Northern Song Dynasty as a County Magistrate (GL) - Chapter 21

21: The Second Young Master Gets into an Argument

Yun Jingchu stared at the medicine-stained quilt and immediately ordered it changed. Anger flared—how could an adult fail to hold a bowl steady? Yet the sight of Tian Qingyi’s timid explanation, head bowed in avoidance, softened her. “Eat first then. I’ll have another dose prepared.”

“Okay!” Tian Qingyi brightened instantly. She’d do anything to avoid medicine. Besides, after sleeping, her stomach had settled and her energy returned.

Post-meal, Yun Jingchu immersed herself in account books, assuming Tian Qingyi—a grown adult—would take her medicine properly.

Instead, Tian Qingyi secretly had Wei Shier drink it while she devoured the dried fruits specially fetched by Ruoshui.

As predicted, she recovered without the medicine. By the next day, her appetite and vigor restored, she happily resumed her routine, arriving punctually at Taiping Xingguo Temple.

April 7th: The new Doctoral Graduate gathered at the Ministry of Rites’ examination hall for the Bai Huangjia ceremony—formally recognizing their cohort and compiling a register listing names, ages, spouses, ancestral details, and hometowns. This networking would aid their bureaucratic careers. As the youngest, Tian Qingyi paid respects to the top scholar.

The register was swiftly requisitioned by Jiufang Xin via Steward Liu, returning as a copy while the original joined his personal archives for posterity.

April 12th: At the Imperial Academy’s Confucius homage, Tian Qingyi seethed inwardly at the philosopher’s legacy of female oppression but complied mechanically.

April 18th: The Doctoral Graduate names were etched onto stone steles at the examination hall. Seeing “Jiufang Xiyan” immortalized, Tian Qingyi fumed at the era’s exclusion of women from civil service.

Feudal antiquity devours women whole, she thought. Even empresses lived at their husband’s whim. This reinforced her resolve to protect Yun Jingchu—who, in modernity, would be a carefree high schooler, not a merchant’s coerced bride wearing societal masks.

April 26th: The Qionglin Banquet, hosted by the Imperial Ceremonial Department in the royal gardens. Though the emperor abstained, he sent examiners as proxies, bestowing poems and flowers.

The rigid etiquette—seating, music, nine rounds of toasts—would’ve overwhelmed Tian Qingyi without Jiufang Xin’s coaching and Xun Chang’s chatter. Even Shang Yan’s “friendliness” proved manageable.

Post-Bai Huangjia, reluctant familiarity blossomed between the three regionally assigned colleagues. Tian Qingyi lacked pretexts to avoid it.

With the banquet concluded, the celebratory period ended. Next came collecting appointment documents (gaoshen) and travel vouchers (quanli) from the Personnel Evaluation Bureau, followed by an imperial audience and departure for their posts.

The gaoshen was her commission; the quanli covered lodging and transport en route. The emperor’s parting gift—200,000 wen per graduate—required legwork to claim. She also retrieved previously awarded items: pale-yellow silk, a matching sash, green official robes, and boots.

While attendants carried the loot, bureaucratic runs consumed her morning. Afternoon queues at the treasury stretched into night. By her return, Yun Jingchu had retired—happily, Tian Qingyi claimed the side chamber.

Her Huating County posting allowed a month for travel. Xun Chang estimated waterways could cover the distance in 10-20 days, plus buffer. This gifted her a free week—an inconceivable luxury compared to her modern work’s stingy holidays.

Post-sleep-in, Tian Qingyi breakfasted simply before calligraphy practice. This month’s mornings blended brushwork with occasional painting—a clumsy transition. Failed attempts at crafting pencils (let alone glass or cement) humbled her. Historical disruption fears proved unfounded; theoretical knowledge rarely translated to practical skills.

Her penmanship drills focused on replicating “Jiufang Xiyan.” Initial scrawls now bore 70-80% resemblance, aided by muscle memory.

Nights were spent dodging Yun Jingchu via late returns from endless Qiji Office banquets. Mornings either saw her rise late or Yun Jingchu depart early. Even filial visits to Shangfu Courtyard often occurred separately. Their mutual avoidance honored their “non-interference” pact—though Tian Qingyi gleaned from Qingyu that Yun Jingchu stayed busy managing shops and manors.

Yun Jingchu, hearing Tian Qingyi had retreated to the study again, wasn’t surprised. Since recovering, he’d kept erratic hours—their interactions could be counted on one hand.

Is he genuinely busy or avoiding me after the exposure? she wondered.

Her month hadn’t been idle. Scrutinizing two years of shop ledgers exposed discrepancies, forcing restitution from resentful yet obsequious managers.

Two manor visits revealed the overseer—Madam Yuan’s portly relative housing a dozen kin on-site. Playing ignorant during his report, she later requested the accounts and left Wu Ma and two maids as “supervisors”—ostensibly for oversight, really to stir infighting.

Madam Yuan’s pettiness knew no bounds—staffing dowry assets with cronies to maintain control. The scalding “accident” had been deliberate intimidation.

But no more. With Jiufang Xiyan’s backing, Yun Jingchu would no longer submit.

Mid-breakfast, a servant summoned them to Jiufang Xin. At Shangfu Courtyard, they found Li Yan and Fan Zhuzhu already present.

Tian Qingyi suppressed irritation—interrupted calligraphy practice for Jiufang Xin’s theatrics.

The patriarch, though unchanged in appearance, seemed spirited. “With the Qionglin Banquet concluded, it’s time for ancestral rites at the old estate. An auspicious date falls the day after tomorrow. Pack tomorrow for an early departure.”

Learning of his son’s month-long chastity had alarmed Jiufang Xin. Forcing spousal proximity during the pilgrimage might spark romance.

Forced fruit’s sweetness matters less than ensuring no divorce, he reasoned. Rumors of his son defending Yun Jingchu suggested potential—given enough interaction.

His satisfaction with Yun Jingchu grew daily. She managed Yuzhu Residence flawlessly, observed filial piety punctually, and even subsidized household expenses with her dowry—a model daughter-in-law.

Stunned, Tian Qingyi robotically assented, having forgotten the rite entirely. Yun Jingchu, though aware, never anticipated inclusion. Had she known Jiufang Xin’s matchmaking intent, she’d have declined.

Logistics were delegated to Li Yan, assisted by Fan Zhuzhu. The couple needed only pack personal effects.

Post-dismissal, they escorted Fan Zhuzhu home before returning.

“Qingyu will handle my luggage. Tend to yours,” Tian Qingyi said, suddenly recalling an afternoon errand.

“Fine.” Yun Jingchu welcomed the reprieve. With Wu Ma absent, she wouldn’t play “dutiful wife” indoors.

While Qingyu packed, Tian Qingyi retreated to the study. Yun Jingchu tasked Baoqin before departing with the round-faced maid and two servants.

Her destination: the employment agency. A prior visit had outlined requirements and wages. Today’s follow-up—delayed by Jiufang Xin’s summons—was for interviews.

The generous pay attracted crowds. Screening consumed two hours, lunch taken at the agency. By mid-afternoon, she’d hired six candidates—four with mercantile experience (two men, two women) and two manor-management veterans.

The merchants were assigned to the shops; the overseers instructed to await her at Xinsong Gate next morning. One-month trial contracts preceded potential long-term retention.

Business concluded, Yun Jingchu dismissed the carriage to browse jewelry shops, retaining only the footmen.

At a goldsmith’s (ironically, a Yun family enterprise), she left the men outside to avoid disturbing female patrons. Mid-consultation, a servant rushed in:

“Second Madam! The Second Young Master is arguing with someone at the music shop across the street!”

The bored watchman had spotted the commotion and recognized Tian Qingyi and Wei Shier.