boyutpedia Chapter 246: Baocheng County Magistrate
Chapter 246: Baocheng County Magistrate
"Forget it, I won't say much. But I am curious, who is your fiancée that you can protect her so much?" Looking at Lin Jingyou's cold look, the emperor really couldn't guess what kind of woman could make Lin Jingyou obsessed with her.
Lin Jingyou's expression softened when he thought of Shen Wanning. "Speaking of my student's fiancée, the Emperor must have heard of her. She is Shen Wanning, the Lady of Jingu County, personally appointed by the Emperor."
"Jin Gu County Lady? It's actually her! No wonder you can't forget her and are so devoted to her. Shen Wanning..." The emperor murmured Shen Wanning's name, and then said, "She is indeed a remarkable woman!"
Lin Jingyou nodded in agreement and said, "She is indeed an excellent woman. Not only is she extremely intelligent, but she is also kind-hearted and always considerate of others."
"Forget it, forget it. I accept that my daughter lost to her. You and she are indeed a perfect match. I won't do anything to break up the couple." The emperor said helplessly.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Lin Jingyou bowed.
"Speaking of Lady Jingu, I remember one thing. Do you know Lin Dashan and Lin Jiang from Daqing Village?" the emperor asked again.
Lin Jingyou said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Lin Dashan is the name of my father, and Lin Jiang is my nephew."
"Oh? What a coincidence! I just received a memorial from the prefect of Fuzhou yesterday, saying that Lin Dashan and Lin Jiang designed a waterwheel. The waterwheel can irrigate farmland independently without human irrigation. In addition, I also saw a small waterwheel model, and the design is indeed very ingenious." The emperor said slowly.
Lin Jingyou smiled slightly. "My nephew has been learning carpentry from a carpenter since he was young and is very talented in it. And my father also had a strong interest in carpentry since he was young."
"No wonder. You, the Lin family, all care about the people and make contributions to our Great Xia. You are rare and good ministers!" The emperor sighed.
"Then you must be curious about what kind of rewards I will give them?" the emperor continued to ask.
Lin Jingyou shook his head and said, "I believe that the emperor will make the final decision on this matter."
"Forget it, forget it. You can't get anything out of me, so I won't ask you any more. Since you won't talk about other people's affairs, then I'll ask you about yours. I didn't grant you any official positions today. Do you know why?"
Lin Jingyou still shook his head, "The emperor will make the final decision, I dare not speak rashly."
The emperor was really choked by him this time. He knew nothing and said nothing. He could only direct and act it out himself and continue talking.
"Since ancient times, the top scholar has been awarded the title of editor in the Hanlin Academy. Tomorrow, I will also appoint you as a editor in the Hanlin Academy. You will first hone your skills in the Hanlin Academy for a few years before being transferred."
Lin Jingyou lifted his robe and knelt again. "Your Majesty, I grew up in the countryside and have experienced drought and famine. I understand the hardships faced by the people, and I am willing to use all I have learned to benefit them."
The emperor looked him in the eye for a long time before asking, "Top Scholar, do you mean you don't want to stay in the capital and want to be sent out?"
"I just want to do what I can for the people. Seeing them displaced, even dead, and even having to eat their own children, makes me feel deeply saddened. My lifelong wish is that the people can have enough food and clothing, and never be displaced again."
Lin Jingyou spoke with sincerity and conviction. The emperor just stared at him, unable to tell whether he was being honest or not.
Thinking of what Shen Wanning had done, and the waterwheel that Lin Dashan and Lin Jiang had just developed, he finally believed that perhaps their family were all such simple people who only wanted to do things for the people.
"Get up! I agree! The county magistrate of Baocheng County happened to return to Beijing to report on his work this year. If I remember correctly, Baocheng County happens to be under the jurisdiction of Fuzhou, not far from your hometown." The emperor said after thinking.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace." Lin Jingyou kowtowed and stood up.
"I hope you can do what you say and make achievements for the people and our Great Xia." Having said that, the emperor actually reached out and patted Lin Jingyou on the shoulder.
Lin Jingyou bowed and said, "Yes, thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost and devote myself to your service."
The emperor laughed heartily and said, "I am waiting for you. If you do well, when you return to the capital to report on your work, I will personally grant you a marriage with the Lady of Jingu County. Perhaps by then, she will no longer be a Lady. You must work hard, otherwise, if your rank is lower than hers, won't you be controlled by your wife at home?"
It was only then that Lin Jingyou saw the emperor smile for the first time in the imperial study tonight. So, all the previous attempts were to test him and scare him.
As for why the emperor teased him and said the last sentence, it was because when the emperor said that he would personally arrange a marriage between him and Shen Wanning, Lin Jingyou's pupils trembled, and the shock in his eyes made the emperor find it very funny.
Lin Jingyou has always been calm and composed. This was the first time he saw Lin Jingyou change his expression. He was in a good mood and couldn't help but make a joke.
Lin Jingyou had no choice but to bow and thank him again, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
He said words of thanks, but in his heart he cursed the emperor nearly eight hundred times. He had wanted to marry Shen Wanning since he took the imperial examination, and he finally made up his mind to propose to her after he passed the imperial examination and was appointed an official.
The Emperor suddenly said this, meaning that he could not marry Shen Wanning at least until he returned to Beijing. Otherwise, it would be disobeying the Emperor's order, regardless of whether the Emperor granted them a marriage.
On the way back, Lin Jingyou was still sighing. The emperor had completely screwed him over. Now the wife he had been hoping for was gone. He would have to wait at least three more years.
The next day, the emperor conferred official positions on this year's students in the imperial court. Unsurprisingly, Lin Jingyou was appointed magistrate of Baocheng County.
As for the others, the runner-up and third place winners all entered the Hanlin Academy. Not only them, but even the ministers were quite puzzled by Lin Jingyou's official position.
They thought that Lin Jingyou's entry into the Hanlin Academy was a foregone conclusion, but they didn't expect that he would choose to be sent out.
After leaving the court, Lin Jingyou went to the Mansion of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery to say goodbye to Yan Hui and others because he was about to set off back to Fuzhou.
The loyal and brave Marquis looked at Lin Jingyou with great reluctance. After spending some time together, he had a great admiration for this young man.
To be honest, he didn't expect Lin Jingyou to choose to be sent away. After all, Lin Jingyou had never mentioned this to them before.
Several people sat in the living room and talked about this matter together.
Yan Hui said with a hint of blame, "Yesterday I was still telling Brother Jingyou that I would protect him in the capital, but who knew that he would be sent out. Brother Jingyou is so mean that he didn't even tell me in advance."