After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

Chapter 172 Lord Zheng's Husband's Authority Is Not Strong

[The rest of the previous chapter has been completed. Those who haven't read it yet can go back and check it out!]

Three days later, Gu Lin set off with Zheng Hao and his entourage of officials.

Gu Lin originally thought that Zheng Hao, as the military supervisor, would attract attention and cause trouble by bringing him, an insignificant person, to Jibei Prefecture. However, when he arrived at the scene and saw the long procession of carriages in front of him, Gu Lin fell silent.

Zheng Hao didn't ride a horse; he sat in the same carriage as Gu Lin. Seeing the young man's expression, he knew what the other was thinking.

A hint of a smile flickered in his cool eyes as he explained, "Officials in the capital always bring maids and servants with them when they go out on official business."

Gu Lin could understand that these officials were used to being waited on hand and foot, so it was understandable for them to bring a few servants with them. But this display was a bit too exaggerated, with each person bringing a dozen or so servants.

If Zheng Hao hadn't told him beforehand that this was an official business trip, he would have almost thought the group of officials were on an outing.

Seeing the young man's nonchalant attitude, Gu Lin couldn't resist asking, "Has no censor impeached them for neglecting their duties?"

This is a serious business trip to the front lines, not a leisurely outing. How can we make such a big fuss as if it were child's play?

Zheng Hao paused for a moment and then said, "An imperial censor once impeached this kind of unhealthy practice."

As soon as the young man finished speaking, the younger man's eyes immediately filled with questions.

Zheng Hao: "Not long after, that censor was dismissed from office."

Gu Lin immediately understood that this was the prevailing atmosphere in the entire court. Even if one or two people disapproved of officials indulging in pleasure and neglecting their duties, it would be of no use. In fact, opposing them could even jeopardize one's own official career.

Seeing that the young man was gradually understanding, the young man lowered his eyes slightly. What he didn't say was that these officials would not only bring servants, but also wives and concubines from their harems or mistresses from brothels. But there was no need to say such unsavory things and offend Uncle Gu's ears.

The journey took them south, avoiding waterways. Coupled with the slow pace of the journey, the carriages swayed and rattled for two or three days. After leaving the capital, the group remained in the suburbs without reaching any city.

Feeling uncomfortable from the swaying, Gu Lin lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside. He saw guards riding tall horses, protecting officials, walking closely on both sides of the carriage procession. Lowering the curtain, Gu Lin turned to look at the young man opposite him. He saw that the man was sitting upright with his back straight like a pine tree, with a half-read book beside him.

Feeling Uncle Gu's gaze fall on him, Zheng Hao opened his eyes and met the other man's deep eyes.

"What's wrong with Uncle Gu?"

The question was phrased subtly, but Gu Lin knew the other person was asking if he needed to use the restroom.

It was very inconvenient to use the outhouse when traveling, so the two of them took three carriages with them. One carriage was for passengers, one was for luggage, and the other served as an outhouse and bathroom.

Whenever Gu Lin needed to relieve himself, Zheng Hao would have the procession outside pause, and then Gu Lin, under the gaze of everyone, would run to the carriage where the chamber pot was placed to use the toilet.

Therefore, Gu Lin tried to drink as little water as possible for the first few days, and kept running around. Gu Lin was shy and embarrassed.

However, after a few days, the group was still in the suburbs. Gu Lin gradually got used to life in the carriage, and his skin thickened. He did whatever he wanted.

Gu Lin asked Zheng Hao, "We're not traveling by water, and the carriage is moving so slowly. Won't we be blamed if we don't arrive in Jibei Prefecture on time?"

Zheng Hao was the leader of the group on this trip. If the journey was delayed, Emperor Jian'an would be the first to hold him accountable.

Zheng Hao spoke, his voice low: "The Zhenhong Army doesn't want me to go too early, and His Majesty also doesn't want me to arrive in Jibei Prefecture ahead of schedule."

Upon hearing this, Gu Lin frowned and fell into deep thought.

Zhen Hongjun didn't want Zheng Hao to arrive in Jibei Prefecture too early, which he could understand. No general wanted the court to send a supervisor to monitor their every move. However, Emperor Jian'an's behavior puzzled him, since this assignment was given to Zheng Hao by Emperor Jian'an.

Zheng Hao was always patient with Gu Lin.

He got up and sat down next to Gu Lin.

Gu Lin frowned slightly, finding it difficult to adapt, and wanted to move to the side a little.

Zheng Hao spoke up and stopped him from doing so.

"His Majesty has appointed me as military supervisor to go to Jibei Prefecture for two reasons. First, to assist the Zhenhong Army generals in recruiting the Red-Clad Army..." Zheng Hao paused for a moment, then continued, "Second, the Zhenhong Army generals are secretly colluding with officials in the capital to embezzle military funds and supplies. His Majesty has ordered me to investigate this secretly after arriving in Jizhou Prefecture."

Gu Lin thought that if that was the case, he should have arrived in Jibei Prefecture sooner. What if the other party became suspicious and destroyed all the evidence?

Lowering his gaze slightly, Zheng Hao read the young man's thoughts from his eyes and said, "There are His Majesty's men in the Zhenhong Army. Even if the generals who embezzle military pay and supplies know what the court has sent to supervise them and what they want to do, they will not dare to act rashly and give others a handle to use against them."

Then, Zheng Hao answered the young man's previous question: "The reason why the Zhenhong Army did not want the imperial supervisor to arrive in Jibei Prefecture in advance was because they were guilty and wanted to destroy the evidence of embezzling military funds before the supervisor arrived."

"Your Majesty..." Zheng Hao lowered his eyes slightly. Gu Lin could not see the emotions in the other's eyes, but he seemed to hear a faint sarcasm in the young man's calm tone: "The generals of the Zhenhong Army come from aristocratic families, and most of them are heirs or outstanding sons of their families. It is true that Your Majesty wants to recover the military pay and supplies they embezzled, and it is also true that you do not want to create a rift with aristocratic families."

After this explanation, Gu Lin quickly understood the relationship between them.

He looked back at the young man, his light brown eyes flashing thoughtfully as he said, "His Majesty wants to use you to warn the generals of the Zhenhong Army, to tell them that if they return the embezzled military pay and supplies to the court before your arrival, His Majesty will not hold it against them."

Zheng Hao raised the corners of his lips slightly and smiled, "Uncle Gu is exceptionally astute."

Gu Lin waved his hand, telling him to stop saying nice things, but he wouldn't listen.

A hint of helplessness flashed across Zheng Hao's eyes; his words came from the bottom of his heart.

Then, seeing the young man's slightly bored expression due to the slow pace of the journey, Zheng Hao diverted his attention: "There is plenty of time. Uncle Gu, please feel free to enjoy the cities we will pass through."

Upon hearing this, the young man's boredom subsided slightly, replaced by a renewed enthusiasm for the city they were about to reach.

Zheng Hao was relieved. He brought Uncle Gu on the trip not because he wanted the other man or himself to suffer. Zheng Hao had always kept in mind the young man's words from a few years ago, when he wanted to travel all over the country.

That evening, the group finally arrived at a city and settled down at a post station.

When rooms were assigned, Gu Lin lived in the room to the right of Zheng Hao. Apart from that, there were no other rooms next to him, only walls, separating him from the other members of the group.

Gu Lin went back to his room to wash up. When an official saw that Lord Zheng was sleeping separately from the young man he had brought with him, he couldn't help but joke, "Lord Zheng is not a proper husband. He was actually kicked out by the people in his room."

Hearing the other party's slightly joking words, Zheng Hao remained expressionless and explained, "It is my uncle, Lord Ye has misunderstood."

Upon hearing this, the official paused for a moment, then apologized, saying, "It was my mistake; I misjudged the relationship between the two of you."

However, a strange feeling arose in his heart. It was true that officials liked to bring people with them when they left the capital for official business, but they usually brought either their personal servants or their concubines. He had never seen anyone bring his uncle with them when they went out to work.

Zheng Hao remained calm and said, "My uncle is a businessman, and he will take this opportunity to purchase property in Jibei Prefecture."

The official looked enlightened.

After resting for a whole night, Gu Lin didn't stay at the inn any longer. He was getting bored sitting in the carriage these past few days.

With the few people Zheng Hao had given him, he left the inn and went out to explore the streets.

After two full days of sightseeing, Gu Lin thought the group was about to set off, so he didn't go out on the third day, intending to rest properly. However, seeing the other officials going out to banquets at a leisurely and unhurried pace, he realized there was no need to rush.

As expected, they stayed in the city for five days, enjoying themselves to the fullest before leisurely setting off again.

For the next month or so, Gu Lin followed them, stopping and starting at different times. At the beginning, after entering the city, he spent his time from morning to night in order to save time. Later, when he realized that there was no need to rush, he slowed down and carefully observed the local customs and culture of the various prefectures.

As they approached Jibei Prefecture, the group was too late to reach the city that night. Gu Lin had assumed they would have to stay in the suburbs, but just as it was getting dark and the group was about to stop and set up camp, an inn appeared ahead.

The inn was small and probably run by local residents. The group headed towards the inn.

Zheng Hao sent Da Zhuo in to inquire. A moment later, Da Zhuo led the innkeeper out. The innkeeper was a beautiful woman with delicate features and a voluptuous figure.

The woman gave a slight curtsy to the handsome official at the head of the table: "This humble woman, Liu San Niang, greets all of you gentlemen."

With a voice like a nightingale, the group of officials, who had seen all kinds of beauties in the capital, were exhausted and listless from their journey. Upon seeing this beautiful woman with a delicate and timid demeanor, they couldn't help but relax.

Da Zhuo reported to his master, "My lord, there are only a limited number of rooms available in the inn. From what I've observed, the rest of you will stay in pairs, while you gentlemen may each have your own room."

Zheng Hao nodded, understanding his master's meaning, and Da Zhuo led the rest of the group into the inn.

Liu San Niang turned her beautiful eyes toward the leading young official, her gaze carrying a hint of ambiguity: "San Niang, please lead the gentlemen inside."

The young man remained expressionless, as if he hadn't noticed anything, and stepped inside first. Liu San Niang followed with graceful steps. Suddenly, she made a "hey" sound, her feet stumbled slightly, and she leaned forward, about to fall onto the young man's back.

Zheng Hao, however, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He subtly shifted his feet to avoid the woman's body. A hint of shame and anger flashed in Liu San Niang's eyes. Her soft body fell to the ground. She slightly raised her eyes, which were red. She looked like a pear blossom in the rain, but the young man was not moved in the slightest.

The official who followed clicked his tongue slightly: "He really doesn't know how to be gentle with women."

However, the young man's performance slightly tempted some officials who had daughters or sons of marriageable age at home.

Fortunately, the waiter quickly stepped forward to help Liu San Niang up. She seemed to be in great pain from the fall. She bowed slightly to the group of officials in front of her to apologize, and then asked the waiter to take them upstairs.

Upon arriving on the second floor, the young man was already waiting there.

Walking towards the other party, Zheng Hao lowered his eyes slightly and looked at the young man, saying, "There aren't enough rooms in the inn, so I'll share a room with Da Zhuo, and Uncle Gu will have his own room."

Gu Lin was a young master and could not live with men, nor did he want to live with women, since he was a man at heart. However, there were few young masters on this trip, and most of them were servants of some family. Seven or eight people were living in a large dormitory, which made it inappropriate for Gu Lin to stay there.

Gu Lin did not refuse Zheng Hao's arrangement.

Turning back to the front of the house, Zheng Hao said to Gu Lin, "The food at the inn in the suburbs is simple. If Uncle Gu is not used to it, you can use the pastries in the bundle."

When traveling, there are many people around, and when they are sleeping in the countryside, the two of them will eat together, but it becomes inconvenient after checking into a guesthouse.

Gu Lin nodded slightly.

Upon entering the house, Gu Lin first took a bath, and soon the waiter brought up the food.

After the waiter left, Gu Lin picked up his chopsticks and looked at the food on the table. Suddenly, the words the young man had said outside flashed through his mind, and his hand holding the chopsticks paused.

at night.

As darkness fell completely, the roars of various wild beasts echoed from the outskirts, while everyone inside the inn slept soundly.

From around the corner of the lobby, the woman's gentle voice, which had been soft during the day, turned cold: "Are they all fast asleep?"

The waiter smiled and said to Liu Sanniang, "Third Master, don't worry. I personally delivered the food and collected all the leftovers myself. These officials are very picky eaters; they didn't touch much of the food, but they drank a lot of soup. I calculated that I added a lot of medicine to the broth. I guarantee that no matter what happens later, they won't wake up."

"And what about the young official who was in charge?"

Liu San Niang didn't care about anyone else, but this young official made her feel a sense of crisis, a feeling she didn't even have when facing high-ranking local officials.

Therefore, even though the young official appeared extremely aloof, like a civil official untouched by worldly affairs, and seemed unarmed, Liu San Niang was still uneasy.

The waiter chuckled, "I was afraid you wouldn't trust me, so I watched him eat it before I left."

After hearing Xiao Er's words, Liu San Niang, who was standing in the shadows of the candlelight, had a slightly sinister look on her beautiful face. She said in a low voice, "My two brothers and I originally wanted to retire from the criminal life and stop killing, but the court did not give us a way out. The people above us also put pressure on my siblings and me. My two sisters-in-law are pregnant. In order to survive, we had no choice but to kill each other."

"That damned government and those damned officials, all they know is how to oppress us common folk!" the waiter cursed.

Liu San Niang raised her hand to brush a strand of hair from the side of her face and said softly, "Kill them and bury them."

"The third leader is benevolent."

However, looking at the third leader in front of him, Xiao Er hesitated for a moment: "Are you really willing to give him up? That young official is a handsome man, one in a million. Even if you snatch him back to the stronghold and make him your wife, it's still possible."

Recalling the young official's elegant and handsome appearance, a hint of regret flashed in Liu San Niang's eyes.

Even a one-night stand with such an outstanding man would be a win.

pity……

They were blocking her way.

A ruthless glint appeared in Liu San Niang's eyes as she said to the waiter, "Kill them all."

For those in their line of work, the biggest taboos are taking chances and not eradicating the root of the problem.

Besides, Liu San Niang couldn't deceive herself; no matter how outstanding the man was in appearance, he was not someone she could control.

Don't raise a tiger that will turn on you and eventually devour you.