Facing Official Liu’s pleas for mercy, Lord Zhang remained indifferent. Instead, he ordered Official Liu and that junior official to be taken to the County Government’s prison, declaring that he would conduct a thorough investigation. Only after everything had been clearly determined would he officially convict Official Liu and that junior official.
Watching Official Liu and that junior official being led away, An Jing had only one thought: One reaps what one sows.
Xiao Changyi remained expressionless.
Master Zhou, Zhao, Sun, and Li, all five officials, felt greatly relieved to see Official Liu and that junior official taken away.
An Jing, observing the five officials appearing extremely relieved, found it amusing. She wondered who among them had just been speaking on someone else’s behalf.
However, An Jing did not say anything to those five officials, but instead, she bowed her hands to Lord Zhang and said, "My lord, I would like to put some waterwheel carts in suitable rivers in Qilin County, which will require about twenty taels of silver. This matter was originally to be reported by Official Liu, but it was not reported. Now that you are here, my lord, could you please approve it so that I can proceed with it sooner rather than later?"
"Good, I approve," said Lord Zhang. "Official An, go to the accounting room and take twenty taels of silver." After a pause, Lord Zhang added, "Waterwheel carts can benefit the people. I cannot manage other provinces and counties, but I can manage ours. I will give orders to construct waterwheel carts in all the rivers that can accommodate them in our province."
This Lord Zhang had held a post in the Imperial Capital and had seen much of the world, which set him apart from Master Zhou and the others. His decisive and generous way of doing things was truly not something they could compare with.
An Jing smiled and said, "Thank you, my lord."
Lord Zhang replied, "This is what I should do." After a pause, "Official An, you’ll need to give me a copy of the waterwheel cart blueprint. Although I can make decisions on this matter, I still need to report it to the Emperor."
"It so happens that my husband has a copy on him," said An Jing, smiling at Xiao Changyi.
Xiao Changyi then produced the waterwheel cart blueprint An Jing had drawn the day before.
Actually, An Jing had drawn two copies the day before, one kept with him and the other with Meng Zhuqing.
Master Zhou already believed that An Jing and Xiao Changyi had powerful backers, likely with a higher rank than Lord Zhang. Therefore, seeing that An Jing and Xiao Changyi showed no fear of Lord Zhang, he was not at all surprised.
But Zhao, Sun, and Li, four officials, were all shocked.
Lord Zhang was a Third-ranking official, whom they were all very afraid of, lest they offend him and hinder their own prospects. But these two didn’t seem to be afraid at all.
Moreover, Lord Zhang appeared very natural in his support, without a hint of anger.
However, thinking of Official Liu’s façade, perhaps Lord Zhang was also a smiling tiger. They couldn’t help but sweat for An Jing and Xiao Changyi.
The two were far too audacious! What would they do if their actions brought trouble upon them?!
Besides fearing being implicated, Li Jifan was also somewhat concerned about An Jing. He was fond of An Jing but, due to her being a married woman and the need for propriety on his part, he absolutely would not allow these feelings to be revealed to others.
"Official An, may I have a word with you?" Suddenly, Lord Zhang asked.
"Of course," replied An Jing cheerfully. "Let’s go to my office."
Seeing that Lord Zhang wanted to have a private word with An Jing, Master Zhou and the others were startled and also very anxious, having no idea what secret matters Lord Zhang wanted to discuss with An Jing.
"You don’t mind if my husband comes along, do you?" An Jing asked with a smile.