Zhou Qiyuan panted heavily. He took a long time to calm down and accept this reality.
He grabbed Lin Wenbin by the shoulders and asked urgently, “Who is that substitute? Did you find them?”
Lin Wenbin’s eyes shone brightly as he nodded vigorously. “I found her! And I brought her back for you! That little girl had the exact same dream.”
“Quickly, bring her in!”
Lin Wenbin turned and went out to call Su Nianyuan.
Zhou Qiyuan sat back down in his grand armchair, still feeling somewhat dazed.
The reason he was so devout in his worship of gods and spirits was that during his first year taking office in Cangwu County, a single oversight on his part had resulted in the deaths of over a hundred people in one of the villages.
It was the biggest mistake he had ever made since becoming an official.
Afterward, he suffered five nights of nightmares. In his dreams, those deceased villagers dragged him downward, wanting to pull him into the eighteen levels of hell.
Under the comforting advice of a concubine at the time, he went to Yifu Temple to pay his respects and donated a large sum of incense money.
The Taoist priest at the temple performed a ritual for him and gave him a peace talisman.
That night, he slept soundly. From then on, he believed fanatically in the gods and Buddha, even spending a fortune to gild their statues in gold.
The money he spent at Yifu Temple amounted to over ten thousand taels every year.
Su Nianyuan’s scheme was completely useless against anyone else; it was a trap set specifically for Zhou Qiyuan.
As soon as Lin Wenbin walked out, he said with a smile, “It worked! Little Village Chief, follow me inside.”
Lin Shoufeng was somewhat reluctant, tightly holding onto Su Nianyuan and refusing to let go. “I’m going with you!”
“You can’t.” Lin Wenbin shook his head. Staring down Lin Shoufeng’s murderous gaze, he explained, “Magistrate Zhou is a deeply suspicious man. He might believe the Little Village Chief, but the moment you appear, this entire matter will raise many more suspicions.”
Su Nianyuan understood. Zhou Qiyuan had committed many evil deeds and was naturally suspicious. If they didn’t strike while the iron was hot, it would become much harder once he regained his wits.
She said, “Uncle Lin, I’m fine. Just wait for me outside.”
Lin Shoufeng hesitated, but meeting Su Nianyuan’s calm eyes, he sighed after all and handed her over to Lin Wenbin.
He exhorted, “Don’t let her get hurt.”
This was his newly recognized little master. If she got hurt the very first time she went out with them, he wouldn’t have the face to return and see the elders and fellow villagers.
Lin Wenbin nodded earnestly. “Alright.”
Holding Su Nianyuan, he quickly turned back and re-entered the rear courtyard.
The rear courtyard of the county yamen was lavishly decorated, filled with all sorts of rare plants, pavilions, covered walkways, rockeries, and ponds. Su Nianyuan observed it all in silence.
Soon, she saw a portly middle-aged man. At this moment, his face was tense, and his eyes burned with intense anticipation as he looked at her.
This was the Magistrate of Cangwu County, Zhou Qiyuan.
Looking at how round his face was, it was even bigger than her steamed-bun-like cheeks.
She felt deep disgust in her heart, but none of it showed on her face. Instead, she put on an excited expression typical of a young child, pointing at Zhou Qiyuan and shouting to Lin Wenbin, “Uncle, he looks exactly like the portrait the Great Immortal showed me! He is my godfather!”
Zhou Qiyuan jolted and stood up immediately.
He carefully took Su Nianyuan into his arms, gestured for Lin Wenbin to remain quiet, and smiled benignly at Su Nianyuan in his arms: “Little girl, what did the Great Immortal you mentioned look like?”
This man isn’t completely stupid, after all.
Su Nianyuan recalled the largest golden statue in that temple, tilted her head, and said in a milky voice, “He had golden armor, and he was stepping on a big turtle with his feet! He looked so majestic! I wanted to climb up, but he wouldn’t let me.”
The child’s naive words described it simply, yet they matched the exact appearance of Emperor Zhenwu.
Zhou Qiyuan believed most of Su Nianyuan’s words now.
After all, what lies could a five-year-old child tell?
He immediately followed up with a question: “What did the Great Immortal say to you?”
Su Nianyuan giggled, her smile sweet and utterly adorable.
“The Great Immortal said that someone who looks like you is my godfather! He said, Godfather, you will definitely become a high official under one person and above ten thousand people in the future! Godfather, what kind of official is that?”
Su Nianyuan reached out and tugged at Zhou Qiyuan’s official hat, as if she truly treated him like her father, showing no fear of him whatsoever.
This attitude actually put Zhou Qiyuan at ease.
It proved that this child truly was the savior sent to him by the Emperor. Otherwise, how could she not fear him at all?
Besides, “under one person and above ten thousand people.”
Wouldn’t that be the Prime Minister? Did he actually possess such good fortune? An ambition he had never felt before began to swell rapidly under Su Nianyuan’s stimulation.
His expression grew increasingly gentle, even more tender than the way he treated his own biological children: “Daughter, did the Great Immortal tell you what Father should do next?”
“Yes!”
Su Nianyuan nodded, but then suddenly seemed to get stuck, scratching her head: “But I seem to have forgotten a bit.”
Zhou Qiyuan’s smile froze, and he felt an urge to strangle Su Nianyuan to death.
Just as his gaze was turning dangerous, Su Nianyuan smiled again and said, “It’s fine, though. The Great Immortal said he would come chat with me every single day!”
Zhou Qiyuan breathed a sigh of relief and instructed, “Then tomorrow you must tell Godfather what the Great Immortal said. Don’t forget, alright?”
“(?￣?￣?) Okay!”
Seeing Su Nianyuan’s obedient and soft demeanor, the last trace of dissatisfaction in Zhou Qiyuan’s heart vanished.
He smiled and said, “From now on, you are the daughter of Zhou Qiyuan. You will live in the magistrate’s manor and enjoy the treatment of a young lady.”
At that moment, a system prompt sounded in Su Nianyuan’s mind.
[Jurisdiction population change detected.
Total county population: 21,035 people.
Issuing funds based on the per-capita headcount of the host’s jurisdiction: 30 copper coins per person per day.
Today’s headcount funds re-issued: 631,050 copper coins received.
Current account balance: 636,430 copper coins.]
It worked!
Su Nianyuan’s eyes lit up. She looked at Zhou Qiyuan in excitement, as if looking at a treasure, leaving Zhou Qiyuan completely bewildered.
A net income of six hundred and thirty taels a day! Think of how much she could do with that!
Su Nianyuan felt she could pull off a major move now. She hugged Zhou Qiyuan, no longer feeling disgusted by him, and asked in a low voice, “Godfather, the Great Immortal asked: do you want to climb higher?”
Zhou Qiyuan’s breathing turned ragged. He didn’t dare talk carelessly anymore; perhaps Emperor Zhenwu was standing right beside them, watching him.
He nodded slightly, his eyes filled with yearning, as if saying, “Quickly, tell me, how do I climb?”
Su Nianyuan curled her lips. “Godfather, give me ten thousand taels and your waist token. Within half a year, I’ll let you show off immensely in front of the Regional Inspector!”
Zhou Qiyuan hesitated slightly. She was just a five-year-old child; could she really succeed?
Su Nianyuan grinned. “Dad, if I fail, you can just kill me.”
Lin Wenbin: !!!
He had been waiting on the side the whole time, listening to the Little Village Chief fool the magistrate. He was frightened half to death by her final sentence.
Is that something you can just casually say?
Yet these words suited Zhou Qiyuan’s taste perfectly.
The entire Cangwu County was his domain. If anyone dared to deceive him, he could simply kill them. But if she actually succeeded, he would have a stepping stone to power. At worst, it was merely a matter of time.
He held Su Nianyuan and burst into hearty laughter.
The laughter even reached Lin Shoufeng, who was waiting anxiously outside. The moment he heard it, Lin Shoufeng’s heart inexplicably settled down.
He should have faith in the Little Village Chief’s capabilities after all.