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墨書 Inktalez
Do you like to hit people? What kind of hitting do you prefer?
With a whip, with kicks, with a stick, or just grabbing anything nearby and smashing it down without care for the time, place, or even the identity of the person being hit.
Sang Qingxiao had hardly heard Bai's words; more accurately, she found it somewhat surprising and hard to believe. Aren't officials usually more concerned about their public image? Sang Qingxiao couldn't imagine how he could so recklessly vent his emotions.
Yue quickly provided her with an answer. A street vendor accidentally splashed a few drops of dirty water onto the hem of his clothes, and in an instant, he crushed the vendor's hand underfoot.
A few drops of water—was it really worth that? The vendor should have just swallowed his anger, right?
Swallowing his anger? Yue Governor had just crushed the man's hand and then offered a large sum of silver as compensation. That amount was enough for the vendor to live comfortably for several lifetimes. Having lost a hand but gained a lifetime of wealth—he must have felt he had turned misfortune into fortune.
Yue Governor had also once vented his anger on a subordinate after a failed campaign, beheading him with one stroke. Yet afterward, he spent a considerable amount of money to take care of the man's parents and wife and was even more generous to them than to his own family.
This person's way of handling matters was indeed casual, Sang Qingxiao speculated. He must be greedy for money; otherwise, how could he afford such compensation?
Yue denied this, stating that Yue Governor had a natural talent for business. Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—people often said that merchants were the lowest class, but Yue Governor thought otherwise. Not only did he engage in business himself, but he also encouraged the citizens of Huzhou City to do the same. The city's prosperity began with commerce.
Hearing this, Sang Qingxiao was somewhat surprised and then asked, "What you just mentioned was how he treats outsiders; is he equally irritable and volatile with his family?"
He had personally killed several concubines, one of whom was pregnant. Yue Governor had stomped on her belly several times, causing both her and the child to perish.
Why did that happen?
It was said that it was simply because she carelessly brewed a cup of old tea.
What?! Li Cu gasped in shock; what a bizarre reason!
Yue continued, saying that he had also personally crippled his legitimate son.
He could cripple his legitimate son? Why?
Because he saw his legitimate son smiling at his newly married concubine. At that time, the legitimate son was only eleven years old.
Absurd! Not even allowed to smile? How could he act so recklessly in hitting and killing people without anyone daring to resist or report him?
Yue laughed and said, "Who would dare when he's revitalized this city?"
Li Cu scoffed, "He sounds like a local tyrant."
Yue corrected her again. Aside from his temperamental nature, Yue Governor did everything else exceptionally well. He respected the emperor greatly; every year during Emperor Wang Sheng's birthday, he would wear plain clothes and spend nine days at the temple sincerely reciting scriptures and praying for blessings—his sincerity was genuine.
Is your mention of sincerity meant as a compliment or an insult?
At this point, I originally thought he was just putting on an act. Out of curiosity, I secretly went to observe him. For nine days, the Yue Governor only drank plain porridge and spent sleepless nights copying scriptures and chanting, never delegating the task to anyone else.
He truly is a strange and contradictory person.
Sang Qingxiao felt that he couldn't understand him at all, so he changed the subject and said, "Let's talk about his deceased son."
Yue Ting, at eighteen, was the Yue Governor's most favored offspring. A student of Lanting Academy, he ranked first every year and excelled in both character and academics. There seemed to be no flaws in him, whether in appearance or personality.
Was he really that good?
Sang Qingxiao was somewhat surprised by these descriptions. In such a twisted family, could a child like that truly be raised?
That's what everyone said.
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