Clerk Jiang immediately responded, "Yes."
The four children were still outside in the carriage, and An Jing couldn’t help worrying about them. Hence, she didn’t linger long at the Agricultural Institute. After giving a few more instructions, she left the premises with Xiao Changyi, planning to return the day after next.
Several officials at the Agricultural Institute felt a sense of unfairness seeing how freely An Jing carried out her duties, especially the obstinate Master Zhou.
Master Zhou, fuming with anger, approached Official Liu and bowed, "My lord, Lord An is behaving inappropriately. She comes and goes as she pleases. I boldly request that you take charge of this matter!"
Not only was Official Liu extremely cunning, but he was also very adept at winning people’s hearts. Hearing Master Zhou’s words, he feigned panic, quickly got up to close the door, and before shutting it, he cautiously glanced outside as if fearing someone might overhear them.
Only then did he return to Master Zhou’s side and whispered, "Master Zhou, let me speak frankly with you. It’s not that I don’t want to intervene, I simply can’t."
While saying this, Official Liu put on an expression full of concealed distress.
Master Zhou immediately took this to mean that Official Liu considered him one of his own and felt extremely comfortable. He also lowered his voice, "Why can’t you?"
"She has someone backing her," he paused. "If it weren’t for that person above who instructed me to leave her be, to let her do whatever she pleases, would I not discipline her? Her behavior is becoming quite outrageous. Without rules, there can be no standards. We all serve the Emperor; she cannot be allowed to act so presumptuously. Ah."
At the end of his speech, Official Liu even sighed, looking utterly helpless.
Master Zhou’s anger flared up again, but learning that An Jing had powerful backing, he dared not criticize her recklessly as he had been doing just earlier. He suppressed his anger and asked again, "Who is it that supports her from above?"
"That, I do not know," replied Official Liu with a shake of his head. Then he hurriedly added, "Master Zhou, I’m treating you as one of my own by telling you these things, please don’t mention it to anyone else."
Being extremely stubborn, once Master Zhou was convinced of something, he held onto it firmly, and now that he believed Official Liu considered him an ally, he would not betray him.
"My lord, rest assured, I will not reveal a word of this to anyone!" Master Zhou promised emphatically. "I thank you for the reminder, my lord! Had it not been for your advice, I might have offended her in the future. You’ve sounded a warning for me; no matter how angry I am, I will not act on emotion anymore!"
Seeing Master Zhou so overwhelmingly grateful made Official Liu very pleased, although he did not show it outwardly. He even modestly said, "What advice? We’ve known each other for many years, and I spoke to you because I feared you didn’t comprehend the gravity of the situation. I was concerned you might lose your position or even your life, which is a personal concern of mine. It’s nothing noteworthy."
Upon hearing this, Master Zhou felt even more grateful, "My lord, if there’s ever anything I can assist you with, just say the word, and I shall serve with the diligence of a horse or a dog!"
Official Liu received exactly the assurance he wanted from Master Zhou; however, he verbally downplayed it, uttering a long string of polite words that left Master Zhou deeply moved.
No sooner had Master Zhou left Official Liu’s office than Clerk Jiang came to report on matters regarding An Jing.
Clerk Jiang was actually one of Official Liu’s men, and Official Liu had also placed his own people among the entourage of Official Li and others, all to ensure his complete control over the Agricultural Institute in Qilin County.