The Prefecture’s assistant magistrate, Xu, was the reviewing officer for local officials this year. At the end of the month, he arrived in Qiuyang County.
There were two assistant magistrates in the prefecture: Xu Chengxiao and Mu Tongzhi—Mu Tongzhi being the father of Mu Ti, Du Heng’s senior brother from Bai Rong Academy.
Each year, assistant magistrates were dispatched, with the county receiving assignments by lot. This year, Xu Chengxiao had drawn Qiuyang County.
The visit was not only to assess the performance of the local magistrate but also because the garrison in Qiuyang County was under the prefecture’s jurisdiction. Xu would naturally inspect the troops during his visit.
After arriving in the county, Assistant Magistrate Xu had not even reached the office before first heading to the Xiafei garrison. However, General Wei Ping had already left the previous day, returning to the prefectural seat to recruit troops in another county, leaving Xu empty-handed.
Feng Wanhe, never one to entertain visiting officials, especially during inspections, had no interest in hosting the civil officer at the garrison. He knew the prefectural envoys would come and preferred to avoid the tedious pleasantries entirely, leaving in advance.
Being of lower rank, Xu dared not show anger at Feng Wanhe’s disregard. After all, both the general and the magistrate wielded power; a mere assistant magistrate could only make a note in his book of Feng Wanhe’s lack of courtesy. Yet with military officers, such a record carried little real consequence.
Feng Wanhe’s bluntness was satisfying to himself, though it unfortunately made things awkward for Du Heng. Xu, having been thwarted at the garrison, arrived in a sour mood, which naturally led him to be stricter during his evaluation of Du Heng’s administration.
Xu Chengxiao was no stranger to assessing Qiuyang County. Upon entering its boundaries, he saw vast fields where many commoners were reclaiming land—resettled vagrants. Further along, villages bustled with activity: every settlement had water channels running through it, and the newly erected waterwheels were already taking shape.
Entering the county seat, the streets were visibly livelier than before. In the past, Qiuyang County had been the least desirable posting for prefectural officials: remote, rough, with troublesome tax collection. Repeated demands for repayment of imperial loans frustrated the magistrate, who often delayed enforcement. Only one year had passed since the previous magistrate had been removed for inaction, and this new magistrate had been in office less than half a year—yet the county had already transformed.
Although temporary adjustments for inspections were common, the visible progress in Qiuyang was no overnight façade. Xu Chengxiao noted that the old problems were now heading in a positive direction, and he felt genuinely gratified.
His mood, dulled by the garrison setback, brightened as he addressed Du Heng warmly. Stroking his beard with a smile, he said, “The magistrate often praises you, Du Magistrate—young, capable, and diligent. Seeing Qiuyang County today, it is clear the praise is well-deserved.”
Du Heng replied modestly, “You overpraise me, Assistant Magistrate. I still have many matters to attend to. I beg your patience.”
Xu Chengxiao nodded. “Your concern for the local people is evident. The prefecture sees it and will support the county’s initiatives wherever possible.”
During his two-day visit, the inspector conducted a brief review of the county’s households, reclaimed fields, waterworks, and crime suppression. Du Heng had resettled vagrants, opened new fields, constructed waterworks, and even eliminated local bandits. Each initiative counted significantly toward his performance evaluation. Xu Chengxiao took careful notes, growing increasingly impressed with Du Heng’s achievements.
The following day, as Xu Chengxiao prepared to depart for the next county, Qiuyang County was thriving. The inspector had no complaints and did not linger.
Du Heng accompanied him to the office gate. “Qiuyang County has grown warm with spring, yet your journey to the next county may still encounter lingering cold. Please take care of yourself, Assistant Magistrate.”
Xu Chengxiao looked at Du Heng’s refined features, warmed by the spring sunlight, and felt a new appreciation for the magistrate’s character. “Rest assured. I will take care. You need not escort me further.”
The carriage rolled slowly down the main road. Du Heng stood watching, a small smile on his face.
“This is by far the easiest inspection we’ve had so far,” he said.
Qin Xiaoman smiled and whispered, “With this visit, your evaluation should be excellent.”
Before Du Heng could reply, two people suddenly rushed forward. The speed and audacity of their approach made him instinctively shield Qin Xiaoman. To his surprise, they grabbed him.
“Ah Heng! You’ve really returned! We heard you became a magistrate, but never believed it. Today I brought your cousin along—it truly is you!”
Du Heng looked at the woman, who seemed to be seeing the light of day for the first time, holding a young girl by the hand, joyfully tugging at his sleeve.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“I am your aunt, Ah Heng,” she replied, quickly turning to the young girl. “Though years have passed and you may not remember me, you surely must remember your cousin!”
“You two were childhood companions. You even spoke of marrying your cousin, and the families had arranged it. Then you left home for many years without a word. Your cousin waited all this time and has grown into a young lady.”
Qin Xiaoman, hearing mention of childhood betrothal, immediately bristled. “Stop making things up! How can people just claim connections like that?”
“Why not? Blood relatives are true blood relatives. How could a woman lie about kinship? Household records attest to it,” the aunt said, covering her face and weeping. “Ah Heng, surely you haven’t forgotten your own aunt now that you’ve risen so high?”
The young girl began crying as well, her tender voice filled with sorrow. “Cousin, are you married? Is this your husband? After all these years, have you really forgotten me?”
Their lamentations, performed openly in the streets and before the county office, gave the impression that Du Heng had risen to prominence while neglecting old bonds. Bystanders stopped to watch the commotion.
“What happened here?”
Even Xu Chengxiao, who had already departed, returned upon seeing the scene.
Du Heng quickly stepped forward and apologized: “I beg your pardon for disturbing you and delaying your journey, sir. It is merely some family matters.”
Xu Chengxiao looked at the two women before him, helpless and utterly frail, their clothes simple, no hairpins or adornments—truly the appearance of poor country women. From their crying and lamenting, he had already caught the gist of their story.
“Are these really your aunt and cousin?” he asked.
Du Heng was momentarily taken aback. Over the years, he had experienced much and rarely dwelled on the memories of his original life. Yet as he carefully examined their faces, searching through his recollections, he recognized the truth: Qiuyang County did indeed have such relatives.
Back when the Du family fell, and both his parents passed, only his aunt, who had married into a rural landowning family, remained. When the family fell into debt, she feared being implicated and had not even attended his elder brother’s funeral. Later, when the original Du had debts pressing him, he had tried to seek aid from this sole remaining relative, but not only was no help forthcoming, he couldn’t even enter the household of the Du family she married into. Heartbroken, he claimed to the outside world that he had no kin and drifted to Luoxia County, where later events unfolded.
Given this history, the sight of his aunt suddenly appearing, seeking kinship now that he had risen in status, was nauseating. Even the present Du Heng would likely have refused to acknowledge her.
Yet outsiders, unaware of these circumstances, saw the women’s tears and perceived helplessness. The more resolute Du Heng’s rejection, the more it appeared that he, having risen to power, was forsaking old bonds, abandoning past promises, and wronging his cousin.
Though the tangled emotions were hard to untangle, the factual kinship could be verified, and Du Heng had to answer Xu Chengxiao truthfully: “Yes. However, in my earlier life I married in Luoxia County and took my wife’s family name.”
Xu Chengxiao furrowed his brow. Learning that Du Heng had married into another family, his impression of the magistrate dipped: “Even so, you retain the Du surname. As a maternal relative, how could you allow them to cry so miserably here? As a county magistrate and pillar of your clan, while serving the state and the people, you must also care for your family.”
Du Heng gritted his teeth, clasping his hands in apology: “You instruct wisely, Assistant Magistrate. I shall remember your words. It is only a small family matter that has caused you concern; I am ashamed.”
Xu Chengxiao replied, “As an official, personal and public affairs are inseparable. If one cannot manage family matters, how can one handle public duties? Excelling in office is not enough—you must also cultivate virtue at home.”
“Please handle your family matters well, and when the next inspection comes, let your conduct leave no fault,” he added with a sigh, mounting his carriage for real this time.
“Ha ha ha!”
From a distance, a voice rang out from a teahouse.
“The magistrate is truly a master strategist. By bringing in this aunt and cousin, he has thrown the county magistrate into disarray. Just look at the impressive performance this year—yet in the conduct column, he will surely take a hit. It is delightful to see him humbled once, so he may appreciate true skill.”
Wei Hongming, sipping spring tea in the teahouse, watched the scene unfold, feeling a rush of satisfaction.
As Xu Chengxiao shook his head and departed, Du Heng finally ushered the aunt and cousin into the inner residence, rising leisurely afterward.
Qin Xiaoman pouted, frowning as he led the two women inside. He had been annoyed that Du Heng never mentioned his childhood betrothed, intending to question him behind closed doors, yet now Xu Chengxiao had returned to scold Du Heng. What might have been an easy top evaluation for the inspection would now likely be slightly reduced due to this disturbance, and Qin Xiaoman felt a pang of sympathy for him.
Inside the audience hall, Du Youyan looked around, touching tables and tea cups, her previous pitiful demeanor gone.
“This is my first time entering the county office’s inner residence—it is impressive. Ah Heng has always been capable, a pity that my brother and sister-in-law passed early and could not witness this. Merchant families are often oppressed; if they saw a child from their household rise to high office, they would be overjoyed.”
Du Heng’s voice immediately turned cold: “The halls are now empty. Why are you, aunt, still pretending? Who sent you and your daughter to cause a scene?”
Du Youyan, startled by the sudden frost in his tone, stepped back but quickly forced a smile:
“What nonsense, Ah Heng. Your aunt knows you are now a high official, but why speak so harshly? You imply we are being looked down upon, yet we are family!”
“You did not come when it was appropriate, and now you appear right before the inspection. Without explanation, you cried in front of the county office, making people think I, Du Heng, despise my kin. Who sent you here? What kind of family behaves so shamefully?”
Hearing Du Heng’s sharp rebuke, Du Youyan retreated a step. The boy she remembered, a mediocre scholar, had been easy to handle. Now, his words were precise and clever, so much so that she felt she barely recognized him. Only his face remained familiar; had it not been, she might have thought she had the wrong person. Rising through the civil examinations and reaching his current office was indeed a remarkable transformation.
“My aunt did not know officials would come for the inspection—was that the examiner just now? Oh! How I’ve embarrassed your affairs!”
Du Youyan continued to feign ignorance: “I am but a coarse woman, not learned like you. I did not understand. Seeing you so happy, do not blame your aunt.”
She then turned to the young girl. “Now that you have returned, you should fulfill the old engagement with your cousin. That will comfort the spirits of your deceased parents.”
Glancing at Qin Xiaoman, who stared in disbelief, she added, “Though you are married to your proper wife, serving as an official allows multiple wives. Your cousin has sincere feelings for you; even as a concubine, she would be content.”
Before anyone could speak, she stepped forward and grabbed Qin Xiaoman’s hand. “Look at your husband—he must be a considerate and virtuous man. Having more children in the family can only bring joy. The Du family is so small; the family line must continue strong and prosperous.”
Qin Xiaoman yanked his hand free. “What, does your daughter also want to come serve me as a concubine?”
“Eh, you boy,” Du Youyan said, frowning. “Our Ah Heng is an official—how can he have only one wife?”
Duan Xue stepped forward and tried to take Du Heng’s hand. “Cousin, I’ve waited all these years for you. I thought I would never see you again. Heaven has been merciful—but will you betray me?”
“Absurd! There was no matchmaker, no formal betrothal. How could there be a broken engagement?”
Seeing that the mother and daughter were not speaking truthfully and were only clinging to him, Du Heng knew there was no use in reasoning with them.
“Send Aunt and cousin to the west wing to rest. Coming all the way from the countryside is tiring enough—let them be, don’t make them wander about.”
“Eh, eh! Du Heng, what do you mean? Are you imprisoning your aunt and cousin? Is there no law?”
Watching them being led away, Du Heng sat irritably in a chair. Raising his eyes, he saw Qin Xiaoman standing nearby, eyes sharp as a hawk. He immediately stood up again.
He reached for Qin Xiaoman’s hand, but was deftly avoided.
“Don’t be mad, okay?” he said.
“No! I am mad!”
Du Heng pursed his lips. Seeing that Qin Xiaoman wasn’t entirely angry and that there was still room for reconciliation, he said seriously, “Why do you speak like Dan Ce?”
Qin Xiaoman, genuinely angry, snapped, “You mean I’m throwing a childish tantrum?”
“Me? I would never dare,” Du Heng said.
“You dare nothing? Your mind is full of tricks! Back then I asked if you had family to send you back, and you said you had no kin, none at all! And now not only do you have an aunt, but a cousin whose tears fall like rain, waiting for you all these years!”
His eyes went red as he thought of the mess with Yun Qingwen’s family. “You lied to me! I’m going back to tell Second Uncle!”
Du Heng caught Qin Xiaoman before he could leave, pleading, “Don’t! If Second Uncle finds out, he’ll break my legs. How can you be so cruel?”
He held him in his arms, gently stroking the back of his head. “I promised you long ago I would never marry another. As for this cousin, I never liked the idea of relatives marrying relatives—how could I ever take a relative’s daughter as a wife?”
“This must have been arranged on purpose, just to disturb our household,” Qin Xiaoman murmured into Du Heng’s shoulder. He didn’t reply.
Du Heng recounted all his memories of the Du family’s aunt and cousin to Qin Xiaoman.
“My aunt was always cold; it makes no difference whether she existed or not. What I said back then was wrong—I made you sad. I will handle this properly and give you an explanation, alright?”
Qin Xiaoman lifted his head and looked at him, feeling a pang of sympathy at the recollection. He nodded. “I’ll go check on Dan Ce and Cheng Yi.”
Du Heng, however, did not let go of his hand.
“What are you doing?”
He knew Qin Xiaoman’s temper flared fast and faded just as quickly. Perhaps a few words would resolve it; perhaps he would forget entirely after a turn of the head. But Du Heng said seriously, “Did you take my words to heart?”
“I did,” Qin Xiaoman replied.
Only then did Du Heng relax and let him go.
They had not been in the county for long. Even with limited news from the villages, half a year had passed, and Du Heng had carried out many reforms. He didn’t believe his aunt in the countryside would not know he was now the county magistrate. She had likely understood that approaching him earlier would have been pointless; even now, seeking kinship during the inspection was probably not for recognition, but to cause trouble.
Without any instigator, she wouldn’t have had the courage.
Du Heng pondered who might have sent this mother and daughter—it had to be someone with a grudge. Looking around Qiuyang County, besides the Wei family, who else could oppose him so openly?
His anger simmered. The Wei family’s schemes were truly devious, using timing to turn the tables. Sending two women to cause a scene was indeed vexing. Not only did it risk lowering the impression of him with the inspection officials, but he now had to host and care for them properly—he could not simply punish them, lest they make a scene outside and ruin his reputation.
No wonder Jiang had warned him to be cautious of the Wei family; local officials had good reason to fear the local power players.
Since the women had been brought here, Du Heng now had a means to manage the situation. He called them over and gave careful instructions.
At night, after dinner, Cheng Yi and Dan Ce walked in the garden to digest their meal. Passing the study, they saw only Du Heng inside, attending to official work.
Cheng Yi tilted his head, noticing Qin Xiaoman was not with him.
Dan Ce shook Cheng Yi’s hand and pulled him aside. “Today, a strange aunt and sister came to the house.”
“Strange how?”
“The aunt said my sister should become my little mistress.”
Cheng Yi’s eyes widened. “Don’t talk nonsense.”
Dan Ce shook his head earnestly. “I didn’t!”
Cheng Yi tugged Dan Ce quickly toward the main room and saw that Qin Xiaoman had already washed up.
“Is Father going to sleep?”
“Why are you two here?”
Qin Xiaoman waved at the children. He patted Dan Ce’s back and, seeing he wasn’t sweaty, knew they hadn’t been running around after dinner.
“Why didn’t Father stay in the study to work today?”
“Father isn’t a child; does he need someone to accompany him? He’s going to sleep now.”
Cheng Yi held Qin Xiaoman’s hand. “Did Father and Ah Heng have a fight?”
“No, nothing happened.”
“Then Cheng Yi, go call Father to come keep Ah Heng company while he sleeps.”
Qin Xiaoman laughed softly. “Ah Heng isn’t a child anymore; he doesn’t need someone to accompany him to bed. Father has many official duties—don’t disturb him.”
“Then Dan Ce doesn’t have work to busy him, and he doesn’t mind—he can accompany Father to sleep.”
Qin Xiaoman turned and saw Dan Ce already lying there, having kicked off his shoes, flipping over to climb onto the bed.
He was about to tell him to go back to his own room but changed his mind. “Fine, then Cheng Yi and Dan Ce can sleep with Ah Heng tonight.”
Dan Ce happily jumped on the bed. “Great! Great!”
When Du Heng returned to his room after finishing his work, most of the lights were out, leaving only two warm oil lamps glowing softly.
He was slightly surprised at how early Xiaoman had gone to bed.
He instinctively lightened his footsteps, took off his robe, and gently lifted the curtain to get into bed—only to see three figures already there.
In the middle lay Qin Xiaoman, on the left the obedient Cheng Yi snuggled up quietly, and on the right Dan Ce sprawled across the bed.
“Why is this little rascal here?”
Qin Xiaoman looked at Du Heng. “He said he wanted to sleep with me.”
“Then where do I sleep?”
Qin Xiaoman tilted his chin, saying nothing.
Du Heng glanced at the window bench. Supporting his back, he protested, “Sleeping there will hurt my back.”
Qin Xiaoman ignored him completely.
“I’ll take the little one back to his room.”
Cheng Yi, warm and soft from sleep, was carried back with a small blanket covering him.
Next, he tried to carry the sprawled Dan Ce, but the night air was cool, and any movement stirred him awake.
Half-asleep, Dan Ce opened his eyes, noticing his father’s slight stubble, and sleepily called, “Father.”
“Hm?”
Du Heng looked down at the little boy in his arms. Off duty, he was still quiet and well-behaved, inheriting some of Cheng Yi’s features.
Du Heng’s heart softened with paternal affection, and he was about to reassure him that he could sleep comfortably in his room. But then the child said, “Father, can I fight with Ah Heng every day?”
“?”
“Then Dan Ce and Brother could sleep with Ah Heng every night.”