Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Can’t Let Go_1 Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Can’t Let Go_1 Lin Yue would be foolish to truly believe that the Magistrate was so amicable; she probably was given this treatment because of Jiang Ziqi’s face. She dared not overstep her bounds; otherwise, what would she do if the Magistrate decided to make her life difficult once Jiang Ziqi was gone? As a mere commoner, she had absolutely no power to contend with the Magistrate.
“Magistrate, you are too kind. How could I, a common woman, deserve your apology? Moreover, you have done nothing wrong towards me. On the contrary, I must thank you for administering justice impartially and righteously, and for vindicating me.”
In just a few short sentences, Lin Yue both acknowledged the facts and subtly flattered the Magistrate. As expected, the Magistrate was very pleased, thinking to himself that this common woman indeed had some insight and knew when to advance or retreat, “As an official who receives the Court’s stipend, it is my duty to be just, incorruptible, and strict with myself. Punishing the wicked and promoting the good is what I should do.”
The words of Chen Qing were clearly a declaration of his principles, and not really meant for Lin Yue’s ears. He looked around but did not see Jiang Ziqi; he had sent a servant to gather accurate information before coming and was certain Jiang Ziqi had arrived. Not seeing him outside, Chen Qing assumed he must be inside the house. Indeed, given Jiang Ziqi’s status, how would he come out to greet him?
The Magistrate clearly did not have the patience for idling with Lin Yue. Understanding the Magistrate’s intention, Lin Yue, who was not one to be obtuse, invited him inside for tea.
One was a fifth-ranked Magistrate, and the other had no official title or rank; however, upon meeting, it was the Magistrate who first paid his respects to Jiang Ziqi. The mere status of a son of an Aristocratic Family could certainly not make the Magistrate act this way. It was at this moment that Lin Yue truly realized how formidable Jiang Ziqi was; not only was he a Divine Doctor, but he had also been granted the special privilege by His Majesty to be exempt from kneeling before officials, reflecting his status in the eyes of the Court.
The room was only so big, and with too many people, it could not accommodate them all. Aside from the Magistrate’s party and Lin Yue’s own people, everyone else waited outside.
Owing to Lin Yue’s relationship, Jiang Ziqi gave Chen Qing some face. Although he remained aloof, he still engaged in a detached exchange with Chen Qing, not outright ignoring him. Meanwhile, the Magistrate’s wife casually chatted with Lin Yue about household matters. With Lin Yue’s broad knowledge and articulate speech, and without any forced flattery, the Magistrate’s wife felt increasingly pleased and grew more interested in the conversation as it progressed, making for a harmonious scene.
Seeing that he was unable to join the conversation, Zhao Erhu felt awkward just standing around. With the Magistrate’s entourage still outside, it seemed inappropriate to keep them waiting, so he excused himself. As he left, he saw Zhao Xinglin already taking over his duties as host and entertaining the guests.
Zhao Erhu first thanked Zhao Xinglin, and then they both attended to the Magistrate’s party. Since the Magistrate’s visit was unexpected and there were no preparations, Zhao Erhu had no choice but to serve the newly prepared snacks Lin Yue had made for Dalang and the others as refreshments.
Fortunately, Lin Yue had thought of selling these treats in the market in the future, so she had made a good variety of them, enough for Zhao Erhu to offer. Now that everyone knew about Zhao Xinglin and Zhao Erhu’s cousin relationship and the importance the Magistrate and the Divine Doctor placed on Zhao Erhu’s family, everyone’s attitude towards Zhao Erhu was very friendly.
“My, Yueyue, is this piece of double-sided embroidery your work? It’s really beautiful. Your embroidery skills surpass those of the needlewomen in our residence by a hundredfold.” The Magistrate’s wife inadvertently saw an unfinished embroidery piece in the sieve on the table, picked it up, examined it closely, and couldn’t help but express her admiration, utterly captivated by it.