Chapter 92: Warm Face Meets Cold Rear
Zhao Zun and Ping Chuan rode ahead on horseback, their figures appearing particularly agile amidst the flying dust.
Luo Hai’s carriage followed slowly behind, inside the carriage, Luo Hai leisurely sipped tea, enjoying this rare tranquility after more than a month.
Just as they arrived in front of the County Magistrate’s residence, Zhao Zun saw a middle-aged man in official attire hurriedly approaching, it was Mr. Sun Wenyuan, the Zhizhou of Canzhou.
He had a respectful demeanor, eyes lowered, clearly placing significant importance on this meeting.
Before Zhao Zun was titled as King of Cangzhou, Sun Wenyuan was the highest ruling official in all of Cangzhou. But now that Zhao Zun had arrived, Zhao Zun was obviously the most important.
Sun Wenyuan had been here for over half a shichen, and the clerks of the County Magistrate’s residence had all come out to welcome the Zhizhou. But upon hearing that Zhao Zun was out, he insisted on waiting outside the residence to make a good impression on the King of Cangzhou.
"Lower official pays respects to Your Highness." Sun Wenyuan’s voice carried a hint of flattery.
Sun Wenyuan was a direct descendant of the Sun family, one of the four great families of Da Jing.
The Sun family was the maternal family of the Empress Dowager, and therefore the family of Emperor Jing’s mother, ranking among the four great families with great influence.
However, over the years, to support Emperor Jing’s ascension to the throne, the Sun family spent considerably, no longer rivaling the wealth of the Wei family.
Despite its large size, Sun Wenyuan still held a trace of reverence for Zhao Zun, who had risen from Marshal of the frontier to become a prince.
After all, Zhao Zun’s fame throughout Beiguan was thunderous.
Previously, Zhao Zun held the position of the Marshal at Beiguan, making them one civil, one military, both ministers of the court. But now Zhao Zun’s status surpassed his, thus he had to show respect upon meeting Zhao Zun.
Zhao Zun’s expression was stern, his eyes profound. He gently raised his hand, his tone indifferent: "Mr. Sun, no need for formalities. What brings you to see this prince?"
Seeing this, Sun Wenyuan hastily bowed and replied, "The lower official has received the imperial edict to supervise the construction of the Prince Mansion for Your Highness, and has come to inquire where Your Highness would like the residence to be built in Cangzhou?"
Zhao Zun’s gaze lingered on Sun Wenyuan’s face for a moment, as if pondering something. Moments later, he spoke lightly, "In Qingshui County then!"
"Qingshui County is perfect! It is the most prosperous county in Cangzhou," Sun Wenyuan flattered promptly, quickly taking out the already prepared blueprint from his sleeve, offering it with both hands: "Your Highness, this is the draft prepared by this lower official, please review it."
Though Sun Wenyuan’s attitude was respectful, Zhao Zun, seated high on horseback, did not reach out to take the blueprint, merely remarked indifferently, "No matter, construct it however, as long as it’s habitable."
Habitable?
Is this how a Prince Mansion is built?
Sun Wenyuan was startled, the prince’s indifference and casualness were clearly not what he had imagined as a majestic image.
He pondered silently, perhaps because the prince had recently been in low spirits?
Little did Sun Wenyuan know, Han Lei’s whereabouts were unknown, and Zhao Zun indeed was in low spirits, having little interest in anything other than searching for Han Lei.
Sun Wenyuan swallowed nervously, speaking more cautiously, "Your Highness, then... shall the lower official start the construction on an auspicious date?"
Zhao Zun did not respond, as if suddenly thinking of something, he slightly furrowed his brows, questioning instead, "Mr. Sun, how did you know I was in Qingshui County?"
He had only arrived in Qingshui County the day before, and today Sun Wenyuan came seeking him, he did not believe it to be a coincidence.
Sun Wenyuan hurriedly replied, "After receiving the emperor’s edict, the lower official has been sending people to keep track of Your Highness’s whereabouts. The lower official received a report last night that Your Highness had arrived, hence... I came overnight to pay respects."
Sun Wenyuan’s Zhizhou office was in the neighboring county of Qingshui—Huachang County, requiring about eight hours one way. To curry favor with the King of Cangzhou, upon receiving the report, he indeed came overnight.
Hearing this, Zhao Zun’s eyebrows slightly twitched, as if something suddenly became clear to him. A glint of coldness flashed in his eyes, and with a slight gesture, Ping Chuan behind him immediately came forward.
"Go tell Mr. Xiao to immediately take people and find where Princess Changle is staying. Then bring her here, and say..." Zhao Zun lowered his gaze, pondering for a moment before continuing, "Say that this prince wishes to invite her to a banquet."
As soon as he arrived in Qingshui County, Princess Changle came looking for him, proving that Princess Changle, like Mr. Sun, had also sent someone in advance to monitor his whereabouts, rather than seeking friends in Qingshui County and coincidentally encountering him.
"Yes!"
Ping Chuan received the order and rode away.
Once Ping Chuan left, Zhao Zun looked at Sun Wenyuan, speaking faintly, "Mr. Sun, you are considerate. Handle this matter as you see fit."
Sun Wenyuan saw the cold flash in Zhao Zun’s eyes, thinking perhaps his overnight arrival was a misstep, he felt uneasy but was slightly reassured as Zhao Zun showed no anger.
He continued to tread carefully, "This is the duty of the lower official. If Your Highness needs anything, feel free to instruct the lower official. This lower official shall exert every effort to serve Your Highness."
Zhao Zun’s sharp gaze lingered on Sun Wenyuan’s face for a moment, without inviting him inside the County Magistrate’s residence to sit down, he merely nodded lightly.
"Very well! Since the emperor granted Cangzhou to me as a fief, future management of Cangzhou relies heavily on Mr. Sun. If done wholeheartedly, this prince will certainly reward you well."
Hearing this, Sun Wenyuan was overjoyed. He hurriedly bowed in salute, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your trust. The lower official will certainly live up to your expectations."
Meanwhile, Luo Hai’s carriage slowly arrived.
The Zhou government outranks the county, though Sun Wenyuan ranked lower in front of Zhao Zun, he was superior to Luo Hai.
Luo Hai got off the carriage, seeing Zhizhou still at the door, as the County Magistrate, he quickly straightened his official attire, bowed, and paid respects. Then, he welcomed the Zhizhou into the County Magistrate’s residence for discussion.
Luo Hai hosted Sun Wenyuan at a banquet in the County Magistrate’s residence.
During the banquet, Sun Wenyuan flattered Zhao Zun endlessly, trying hard to ingratiate himself. Yet, regardless of the topic, the indifferent Zhao Zun remained aloof.
Sun Wenyuan felt as if he were earnestly flattering an indifferent person. It filled him with unease and embarrassment.
Luo Hai, watching from the sideline, couldn’t bear it. Fortunately, adept at social etiquette, seeing Zhao Zun’s lack of interest and inattentiveness, while Sun Wenyuan was slightly embarrassed, Luo Hai occasionally took over the conversation, actively engaging with Sun Wenyuan.
Luo Hai frequently raised his glass to toast with Sun Wenyuan, managing to make the Zhizhou’s situation appear less awkward.
The banquet continued till nightfall, as Zhao Zun was temporarily staying at the County Magistrate’s residence, and since Sun Wenyuan also had to oversee the construction of the Prince Mansion in Qingshui County, he would need to spend some time there as well.
To avoid further awkwardness, caught between the two, Luo Hai had no choice but to send the already drunk Zhizhou and his entourage to temporarily reside at the post station in Qingshui County.
Once Sun Wenyuan’s party left the County Magistrate’s residence, Zhao Zun, slightly tipsy, also retired to his room.
Before long, Xiao Zhengfei, who had gone searching for Princess Changle, returned.
"Your Highness, we found Princess Changle at the inn," Xiao Zhengfei reported with a clasped fist upon entry.
Zhao Zun sat at the table, contemplating why the Love Lock in his hand wasn’t glowing. Hearing Xiao Zhengfei’s report, he propped his head with one hand, looking up at Xiao Zhengfei with a derisive laugh.
"Hah! Wasn’t she here in Qingshui County to visit friends? So, she hasn’t found them?"
"That, this subordinate does not know," Xiao Zhengfei replied truthfully. "According to Ping Chuan, Mr. Sun sought an audience with Your Highness. This subordinate thought Your Highness might not have time to see Princess Changle today, so he privately conveyed the message that Your Highness would invite her to a banquet tomorrow, but left some brothers to guard at the inn."
A chilling gleam flashed in Zhao Zun’s somewhat blurry eyes, and he waved his hand, "No, I won’t wait until tomorrow, bring her here now."
"Yes!"
Xiao Zhengfei seemed to understand something, responding with firm determination.