GTB Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Transferred to Kyoto

Nine years later.

Under Jiang Yuan’s governance, An Yang County had long become a wealthy region south of the Yangtze River. The people lived and worked in peace, and the Lian Shan Mountain Range outside the city no longer harbored bandits that caused fear.

However, the magistrate here was transferred to Kyoto a year ago.

In Kyoto’s imperial city, before dawn, the chirping of birds reached the Jiang residence.

In the main courtyard of the Jiang residence, lights were lit. Madam Ye pulled her husband from the blankets. “It’s almost *Mao* hour, quickly get up, or you’ll be late for court.”

Jiang Yuan looked utterly despondent, yawning as he slowly propped himself up, leaning against the headboard and complaining:

“Ah! I, Jiang Yuan, must have had terrible luck in my past eight lives to have a brat like Jiuche. If it weren’t for him, I’d still be the magistrate of An Yang County! Why would I be transferred here to be some Vice Minister of Revenue?”

As he spoke, he yawned again wearily,

“Not only am I in the midst of this turbulent court, but I can’t even get a good morning’s sleep.”

Madam Ye was speechless. Her husband was good in every way, except for his… morning grumpiness.

As she picked up his clothes and helped Jiang Yuan put them on, she smiled:

“You can’t blame Che’er for this. It’s because you, husband, are upright and honest, praised by everyone, and governed An Yang County so well that the Emperor appreciated you and transferred you to Kyoto for a position.”

Jiang Yuan snorted coldly, “Isn’t it still because that brat got carried away after becoming a *tan hua*? He even had the audacity to ask for the hand of the Emperor’s most beloved princess.”

“If it weren’t for that, would the Emperor have noticed a magistrate of An Yang County, thousands of miles away?”

Madam Ye glared at Jiang Yuan, “What audacity? It’s clearly because Che’er and Shí Qingya are in love that he asked for her hand.”

“Others would be overjoyed by this, but you’re complaining. Don’t say that in the future, Qingya is already our daughter-in-law. It wouldn’t be good for her to hear.”

As if having made up his mind, Jiang Yuan threw back the covers and got out of bed. While putting on his boots, he said:

“I know. I’m only saying this in the room. Although Qingya is a princess, she is gentle and dignified, and very filial and respectful to you and me. I am naturally satisfied.”

“I’m just lamenting my own fate. Now that I’m caught up in these royal factions, I’m apprehensive every day, longing for the days in An Yang County.”

Hearing this, Madam Ye asked the question that had been on her mind, “Husband, isn’t the Empress the birth mother of the Crown Prince? She should also be wholeheartedly for the Crown Prince. Why is there such undercurrents between the Empress and the Emperor?”

“I don’t know much about the affairs between the Emperor and Empress. But the Empress originally wanted her family to have my position as Vice Minister of Revenue, but the Emperor made an exception and gave it to me.”

“But thinking about it, the Minister of Revenue already supports the Crown Prince. If the Vice Minister of Revenue were also the Empress’s person, then the entire Ministry of Revenue…”

Jiang Yuan stopped talking, “Ah! Enough said, madam. Please understand on your own. Remember, this is not like An Yang County. Madam must also be cautious in her words and actions outside.”

“Don’t worry, I know what to do.”

Madam Ye looked at Jiang Yuan washing up behind the screen. In fact, she had also long missed the days of being the magistrate’s wife in An Yang County.

Back then, her son’s success in the imperial examinations, her husband’s promotion, and the princess’s marriage—every single one of them made her overjoyed.

Thinking about it now, her husband was the most powerful man in An Yang County, but in this Kyoto imperial city, a mere four-rank Vice Minister was not considered a high official.

Every move had to be carefully considered. There was none of the carefree ease she had as the magistrate’s wife.

In the end, she was too short-sighted back then!