Chapter 89: Asking a Favor

When the convoy arrived, the county magistrate hurried forward and said, “This humble official, Du Yunlong, magistrate of Gongyi County, together with my subordinates and the local gentry, pays respects to the Earl of Chang'an.”

“We pay our respects to the Earl of Chang'an.”

The others also hastened to bow. None dared be remiss. This gentleman had killed who knew how many people in places like Zhengzhou; word was that he most favored slaughtering the scholar-gentry.

“Rise. You are Du Yunlong?” Cai Cong stepped down from the carriage and asked coolly. The magistrate before him stood tall and straight, with a square face, heroic and upright.

“Yes, this humble official is!” Du Yunlong replied respectfully. He stole a glance at Cai Cong, then immediately lowered his eyes and humbled himself again. Inwardly, he marveled that a child prodigy was indeed a prodigy, born of heaven’s own ingenuity and wisdom, so unlike an ordinary child at a glance.

“You have done well. In Shandong and the surrounding regions there is drought, and the refugees are wandering homeless. Though Gongyi did not open its gates to receive them, you opened the charitable granary and built thatched huts so the displaced could survive.” Cai Cong nodded. He was very satisfied with this magistrate.

“I dare not deserve such praise, my lord. Opening the charitable granary without authorization is a grave offense. This humble official is now already under sentence, and can only wait for the Ministry of Personnel to send someone to pronounce my punishment,” Du Yunlong said with a smile. Though he was admitting his fault, there was not the slightest regret in his words.

“Mm. Though this deed is worthy of praise, it violates the laws of the court. This earl cannot interfere, but I will keep an eye on the matter. You are a good man. Has the post house been prepared?”

Cai Cong nodded. Although he admired the man, he would not break the laws of Tang. The drought in Shandong should naturally be met by Shandong’s own charitable granaries. Even if the great families of Shandong were locked in struggle with Li Shimin and refused to open their granaries, other places could not simply do so either. Gongyi had opened its charitable granary in violation of the law.

“Yes, the post-house guest quarters have already been cleaned. Please, my lord.” Hearing that Cai Cong would not intervene, Du Yunlong was not disappointed. He respectfully invited him.

“Very well. The rest of you may disperse. This official has County Magistrate Du to accompany me.” Cai Cong smiled. The others withdrew, leaving only Du Yunlong at his side.

“I wonder how many days the Earl intends to remain in Gongyi? This humble official can arrange your itinerary,” Du Yunlong said. He was not rigid; besides handling practical matters, he also knew how to find opportunities to curry favor with his superiors.

“There is no need to arrange anything. I merely wish to take in the local customs along the way. Who knows when I may depart?” Cai Cong said casually. Du Yunlong’s face twitched with pain at those words.

Cai Cong was traveling under imperial orders, and everywhere he went the accommodations and provisions for his entourage had to be supplied by the local authorities. If there had only been a few people, it would not matter, but Cai Cong had more than two thousand attendants. Feeding more than two thousand mouths each day was no small burden, enough to make Du Yunlong wince in distress—especially since no one knew how long Cai Cong intended to stay.

“Ha-ha, that is good, very good! The more one sees, the broader one’s understanding becomes. You should stay a few more days. I can show you the customs and scenery here. Four days from now, Gongyi is holding a courtesan queen contest, and my lord may remain to enjoy the excitement.”

Du Yunlong had barely finished speaking when the pretty maid beside Cai Cong shot him a fierce glare and spat, “What a filthy scoundrel! My young master is only this old, and you want to take him to a brothel? Bah!”

Now Du Yunlong was awkward indeed. He had thought that since money had already been spent, he might as well spend a little more and keep Cai Cong here. Once the Ministry of Personnel arrived and saw how familiar he was with Cai Cong, they might look on him more favorably. If Cai Cong were willing to speak up for him, that would be even better.

He had simply slipped and forgotten Cai Cong’s age. Now he had offended the maid at his side. If she were to whisper against him in her master’s ear, he would be the one to suffer.

“Ha-ha, you little girl, if you do not understand, do not speak nonsense. A courtesan queen contest is not as filthy as you imagine. The women are chosen by their bearing, their music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and verse—the finest among them. The most famous contests are in Luoyang. As for Gongyi, I have never heard of such a competition here.”

Cai Cong smiled. Do not imagine that in ancient times it was easy to visit a brothel. Unless one held great authority or wealth, and unless one had some learning in one’s belly, it was difficult even to court a woman there. At most, one could go to a clandestine courtesan’s house.

“My lord has excellent judgment. Luoyang is a thriving place, and such contests have existed since the Former Sui. The leading courtesans from brothels all over the land come to take part. Gongyi naturally cannot compare,” Du Yunlong said with a smile. Indeed, there was no comparison: one was a nationwide contest, the other merely a county affair. The fame was not the same.

“Hmph. Even so, you still cannot go. If Madam were to learn that a young gentleman like you was lingering in places of pleasure and wine, how heartbroken would she be?” Chunyu muttered unhappily. Then she looked at the heroic and refined Du Yunlong again, and the more she looked, the more she felt his features were sly and indecent, wholly unseemly.

“Ha-ha, this girl has been spoiled rotten by my mother. County Magistrate Du, please do not take offense.” Cai Cong smiled. Du Yunlong waved a hand to show that he did not mind.

Gongyi was only so large a place. In less than two days, Cai Cong had already seen all the sights. Du Yunlong set aside all his official duties and practically stuck to him step for step, like a lump of sticky candy, making Cai Cong’s party enjoy themselves less than they otherwise would have.

Cai Cong had originally intended to leave, but Du Yunlong earnestly tried to keep him, pleading for him to stay a few more days. He kept saying the courtesan queen contest was splendid and hoped Cai Cong would remain to offer his comments.

Cai Cong rolled his eyes. This fellow’s words were completely out of line. What did he take him for, a child at play? Asking a child to judge a courtesan queen contest—had the man been kicked in the head by a donkey?

“Earl, please stay two more days. Look, these two days I have not even had the chance to properly host you. These are dishes from the best restaurant in the city. You are a great gourmet, are you not? Why not taste them and give your opinion?”

“Then I shall not offer an opinion. My taste is too particular, and if I said something unpleasant, it might ruin another man’s reputation.” Cai Cong glanced at the food box without changing expression. The old fox clearly had an ulterior motive.

“County Magistrate Du, if you have something to say, then say it plainly. As a good official who works diligently and cares for the people, it is impossible that you would put aside so much official business and spend every day accompanying me on scenic outings merely because you wished to keep me two more days.

“Just look at your deputy magistrate there, waiting for you to sign off on provisions of grain for my men. The pain on your face was like someone carving meat from your flesh. So I will give you a chance to speak. Is it because you want me to say a few good words for you before the Ministry of Personnel?”

“Hahaha. Though this humble official is not much, I am not the sort who covets power and rank. Is that truly how the Earl sees me, Du?” Hearing Cai Cong’s words, Du Yunlong set down the food box and stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky as he laughed. Then, with proud composure, he asked.

“Is it not? I heard the Ministry of Personnel is arriving soon,” Chunyu said with a frown before Cai Cong could answer. She had come to dislike this magistrate, and for the same reason as before.

“A mere official post—I, Du, do not take it to heart. But...” Du Yunlong said firmly that he did not care, then suddenly changed course and asked for a favor. That turn of his was so abrupt it nearly wrenched his waist.

“County Magistrate Du, speak frankly. If I can help, I will not refuse,” Cai Cong said calmly. He would not refuse if he could help, but whether he could help was another matter entirely.

The two maids were rolling their eyes so hard they were almost white-eyed dead fish. Xia Yun even turned away and spat. She had never seen such a shameless person. He had just been speaking with righteous gravity, and in the end it was still only to ask a favor.

“This... well... perhaps the Earl should eat and drink first. I will pay my respects again another day.” After Cai Cong gave him permission to speak, Du Yunlong instead became awkward and hesitant. After stammering for a long while, his face red as a monkey’s rear, he still could not bring himself to say it. In the end he set down the food box and turned to leave.