Chapter 349: Chapter 349: Last Words

Shang Jingwang looked at Huangfu Jingchen once again.

Huangfu Jingchen did not look at him; instead, he picked up his teacup and took a sip of the already cold tea. He seemed rather indifferent. This was completely different from Shang Jingwang’s despair, Huangfu Jinxuan’s fussing, and Xia Wenjin’s contemplation.

Seeing him like this, Shang Jingwang could barely resist asking him if he had been plotting against him from the beginning.

He remembered the first time they met, Huangfu’s profligate manner and noble air that one dared not look up to, as if still vividly before him. He trusted him wholeheartedly, doing whatever he said regarding the situation in Wangshan Town.

Listening to him, so he risked his own life, personally going to the heart of the epidemic, even at the risk of infection. You should know, Wangshan Town at that time was lacking in medicine and doctors, with only a small Doctor Xia available.

Listening to him, he first sent the memorial to the Capital City, waited for half a month before sending someone to Yu Shikui. No, he was too busy at the time, overwhelmed as soon as he arrived here, so he gave him the prepared memorial, and he sent it on his behalf. It was he who casually told him to send it to the Capital City first, wait for the Imperial Physicians to aid, delay sending to Yu Shikui, lest Yu Shikui adds confusion!

Those images flooded his mind, and if it was all just a manipulation, if he had been a pawn for Young Master Jing from the start, it was too cruel for him.

He had even taken a step forward, and at this moment, a phrase suddenly echoed in his mind: “The political achievement I speak of carries risks and challenges; it’s up to you how you choose. Risks come with opportunities, if you wish to act, I will assist you, if not, I will give these achievements to your Lord Governor!”

This was what Young Master Jing said to him regarding the epidemic in Wangshan Town at that time.

This was a foreshadowing.

The choice was his own.

What was he thinking at the time?

Political achievements! Promotion!

Yes, but aside from these, he thought back then, he was already forty-five, risk was risk, if he could control the epidemic and save a few more lives, it was an immeasurable merit! Merit could accompany political achievement, why couldn’t he take a gamble?

Yes, it was his own choice!

Even if he was used as a pawn by Young Master Jing, so what?

It was his own choice!

Moreover, when he made this choice, he certainly thought about achievements and promotions, but more so, he thought about the people of Wangshan Town, who were his governed people, with the epidemic, it was a significant matter, if allowed to spread, it wasn’t just a matter of one village or town, it could be a county, a prefecture, or even a national affair.

So he gambled.

Because even after being ground down in the officialdom, he still remembered the days before he succeeded in the imperial examinations, how the people lived.

Though he knew the office of prefect was quite low, he merely stood on the mountain path, looking up, still a long way from the top.

But in the hearts of the people, he was that mountain!

The parental official they relied on!

He still had something called a conscience!

He was indeed more urgently concerned about the epidemic affecting the people, which was why he gambled, what did this have to do with Young Master Jing?

Deceived?

Young Master Jing had told him there were risk and difficulty.

He had said it outright, how could this be called deception?

At that time, when he received the commendation decree, seeing the Jade Seal imprint, wasn’t he also filled with joy, with tears streaming down his face?

If one is overjoyed by benefits and blames others when taking responsibility, how is that different from the likes of Kong Tixin?

If he were to be questioned for procedural errors reported, it could only be said that his luck was bad.

Thinking of this, he stopped his steps, he even dared not look at Huangfu Jingchen, feeling guilty for his previous thoughts of questioning.

He turned to look at Huangfu Jinxuan, though his face was still pale, he said calmly, “The Second Young Master is right, if I had reported earlier, Yu County Magistrate would have acted earlier, at that time the Second Young Master had not arrived, everything would have been decided by Lord Yu, now the grass on my grave would be blooming. I reported late, the Court questions, though it cannot save my life, it preserved the lives of the entire Wangshan Town! What is there for me to regret? As a parental official, keeping the people alive is my duty, as for the Court questioning, isn’t it still early? Hopefully, the questioning imperial envoy will arrive later, when Wangshan Town’s epidemic is entirely clear, I can go in peace!”

Huangfu Jinxuan widened his eyes, looking at Shang Jingwang as if looking at a monster.

Huangfu Jingchen unexpectedly gave him a glance, just now he was full of resentment, prepared to accuse him. Don’t ask him how he knew, for a person’s eyes clearly reflect their inner heart.

Though he lacked Jianghu experience, he still had some confidence in reading people.

Except for Xia Wenjin.

Well, back then, his misjudgment of Xia Wenjin… wasn’t actually a misjudgment because Xia Wenjin was not inherently evil; she was just a bit mischievous, loved playing pranks, and sometimes spoke harshly…

But now, Shang Jingwang’s eyes were calm; he seemed to have accepted reality, free of resentment.

Huangfu Jinxuan blurted out in surprise, “Whoa, Shang Jingwang, you harbor a saint within your heart!”

This was not meant in a positive sense.

Shang Jingwang instead chuckled, as he walked towards Huangfu Jingchen, he bowed with folded hands and sincerely said, “Young Master Jing, I have been an official for over twenty years, proud and arrogant in the first half of my life, believing that success in the imperial examinations was a path to glory. But after a long time in officialdom, knowing too much reality, understanding too many rules, I became cautious and timid in the latter half of my life, striving not for merit, but for not making mistakes! I nearly forgot; my original intention after ten years of hard study was not for high office, but merely to showcase my ambitions. My life has nothing notable, but in these final days, I did something truly in line with my heart. Thank you, Young Master Jing, for leaving me with no regrets in this life!”

Huangfu Jinxuan was startled, “Oh my, your words sound eerie, like you’re saying goodbye for the last time!”

Wasn’t Shang Jingwang indeed saying his final farewell? The first half of his life twenty-two, the latter half twenty-two years, his life now at an end.

But with his mind set, he was less afraid and more at ease.

Huangfu Jingchen put down the teacup, looked up at him, and said mildly, “What first half and second half of life? What final days? Lord Shang has merely finished the first half of life, isn’t it too early to speak of no regrets in this life?”

Xia Wenjin also smiled gently, “Rest assured, Lord Shang, you will live a long life!”

Shang Jingwang let out a bitter laugh, a long life? This year he is already forty-five, that’s not considered dying young, is it?

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