Chapter 284: Taking In

Chapter 284: Shelter

In the current situation within Yuanzhou, the government could no longer be trusted. The only one who seemed to still possess a shred of conscience was Shen Chongzhuo.

Entrusting these people to him, using the county office's power to temporarily house and protect them, was perhaps the only viable option at hand.

He snapped his eyes open and turned to Wufeng, speaking rapidly: "Wufeng, take a few men immediately, along with my token and a personal letter, and ride with all speed to Wei County. See the county magistrate, Shen Chongzhuo, in person!

Tell him everything that has happened here. You must persuade him to find a way to take in and settle these miners."

Wufeng clasped his fists: "Understood!" Without a moment's hesitation, he selected several of the best Lin family guards, mounted his horse, and galloped off, disappearing into the dust.

Wufeng, carrying Cheng Ge's token and personal letter, rode hard and finally knocked on the back door of the Wei County office late at night.

When Shen Chongzhuo saw the travel-worn Wufeng in his study and heard his request, he froze entirely.

Take in several hundred miners rescued from illegal mines? This... this was like putting Shen Chongzhuo and the entire Wei County office on a blazing fire!

His face instantly turned pale, and fine beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Countless terrifying images flashed through his mind: the Canal Gang's retaliation, the mastermind silencing them, censure from higher-ups...

This hot potato—dare he take it? If he did, it might mean complete ruin!

But... the miners' miserable conditions described in Wufeng's words, the mountain of corpses at Wild Wolf Valley.

Those people, many of them came from the towns and villages under his jurisdiction—people he was supposed to protect.

"I... I..." Shen Chongzhuo opened his mouth, his throat dry, unable to form a complete sentence for a long time.

He paced anxiously in his study, like a trapped beast, his heart waging a fierce internal battle.

"This matter... this matter is of great importance. Allow me a moment to think.

You've had a hard journey. Go rest in the side room for a while and have some hot tea."

Wufeng gave him an expressionless look and withdrew as instructed.

The study was left with only Shen Chongzhuo, the silence broken by his pacing and heavy breathing.

His mind was in turmoil, on the verge of collapse.

Just then, the study door was gently pushed open, and Su Wanyun entered, carrying a small pot.

She was clearly pregnant, her movements somewhat slow. Seeing her husband's anxious state, her eyes were full of concern.

"My dear, it's late. I had some calming soup prepared.

Are you... facing another difficulty?" She gently set the pot on the desk and asked softly.

Shen Chongzhuo had never hidden his official troubles from her. Now, with his defenses weakened, he let out a heavy sigh at her question.

He told her everything about Cheng Ge's request to take in the hundreds of miners.

Su Wanyun listened quietly, her slender fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of the pot.

Her face showed no fear; instead, it grew calm.

When he finished, she raised her eyes, clear and penetrating, as if they could see into a person's heart.

"My dear," she said softly, instead of commenting directly, she brought up an old memory, "Do you remember the year we first met, at the Lantern Festival?"

Shen Chongzhuo was startled, his thoughts drawn back many years.

At that time, he was just a poor scholar who happened to be visiting the capital to see a friend during the Lantern Festival, when the streets were crowded.

Su Wanyun continued, a gentle, nostalgic smile playing on her lips: "That year at the festival, I got separated from my family and was surrounded by street thugs who harassed me. I was terrified.

There were many onlookers, but no one dared to step forward. Except you—a frail scholar with no strength to even tie up a chicken.

Your face was pale with fright, but you still clenched your fists, staggered forward, and stood in front of me, shouting at those ruffians, ordering them to stop..."

Her voice carried a hint of emotion: "They shoved you, insulted you, even struck you with fists and feet.

You were beaten black and blue, knocked to the ground, but you still stubbornly shielded me, refusing to back down... until the patrol officers arrived."

Her gaze fell tenderly on Shen Chongzhuo's face, and she spoke each word deliberately: "Later, Father asked you why you insisted on stepping forward when you knew you couldn't win.

You said, 'He who reads the books of the sages and sees injustice, if he retreats out of fear of trouble, is no different from a beast.'

That was the moment I knew you were the man I, Su Wanyun, wanted to marry.

Because I saw in you something that those silk-clad playboys lacked.

Humble in status but unyielding in integrity, unarmed but brave at heart—that was the man worthy of my life's trust."

Shen Chongzhuo listened, stunned. He recalled his youthful scholarly spirit and that foolhardy courage.

He remembered his original aspiration upon entering officialdom—to serve the people. He took Su Wanyun's hand, his voice hoarse:

"Wanyun... I understand your feelings. But I... I'm truly afraid... afraid of dragging you into this..."

But Su Wanyun gently held his cold, trembling hand instead. Her hand was warm and steady.

She looked into his eyes, her tone calm but with an unshakable firmness:

"Dear, what are you saying? 'In life and death, we are bound together.'

Since I married you, whether it's glory and wealth or a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, Wanyun will stand by your side."

She paused, her voice softer but heavy with meaning: "Don't forget, you are not only the magistrate of Wei County but also the Shen Chongzhuo who took those blows for me that Lantern Festival night. Don't let me... have misjudged you."

"Wanyun..." Shen Chongzhuo's throat tightened. Looking at his wife's fearless eyes,

the fear and hesitation in his heart shattered as if by a powerful force.

Yes, if he backed down now, how could he face Wanyun's deep affection and trust?

How could he face the courage he had back then? How could he face the people who saw him as their last hope?

He took a deep breath, squeezed Su Wanyun's hand firmly, and said in a decisive tone: "Alright! I'll listen to you! I'll handle it!"

He immediately summoned Wufeng and spoke with finality: "Reply to Censor Cheng: I accept the matter!

I'll immediately dispatch men I trust absolutely to set out tonight, secretly receive and settle those miners!"

Over the following days, Shen Chongzhuo displayed a boldness and capability he had long kept hidden.

He mobilized his trusted confidants, avoiding all prying eyes, and under cover of night, secretly brought the hundreds of miners in batches.

Su Wanyun, ignoring her own status and pregnancy, secretly deployed trusted aides she'd brought from the capital and some of her dowry money to help calm things down.

Wufeng found her and silently handed her a small cloth pouch.

Su Wanyun took it, puzzled, feeling its heft.

She carefully opened the drawstring and looked inside, instantly stunned.

Inside the pouch lay a small gold pig pendant, crafted in a delightfully chubby style.

She immediately recalled the half-joking promise Cheng Ge had made before he left.

He... he actually remembered, and had someone deliver it to her.