It was precisely because lung stones could be seen everywhere and the people all understood their meaning that Zhao Hanzhang followed Ji Yuan’s suggestion to designate the grievance reporting mailboxes as “lung stone boxes.”

As for the remonstrance wood, its origins traced back to Yao and Shun – a classical reference every scholar knew. Therefore, Zhao Hanzhang changed what she had originally planned to call the “policy proposal” mailbox to “remonstrance wood.”

As for policies, regardless of what name they took, as long as they could be widely known and deeply understood by the people, they were successful.

At this moment, standing at the county yamen entrance, Fu Yong immediately understood the purpose of those two examination candidates’ mentions of the “remonstrance wood” and “lung stone” mailboxes.

It was precisely this purpose that gave Fu Yong infinite courage.

If this Great General could broadly open channels for speech and also provide ordinary people with a path to voice injustices, she must be an enlightened and magnanimous lord. What then did he have to worry or fear about?

Fu Yong set down his bamboo basket, solemnly straightened his clothes, and strode toward the county yamen.

When Guan Er and the others saw him walking toward the county yamen like this, they were startled and were about to stop him, but Fu Hong and Dong Shu instead held them back. After exchanging glances, their eyes brightened as they looked at the remonstrance wood standing to the left of the county yamen. They also set down their bamboo baskets and followed Fu Yong inside, saying, “You all wait here and don’t wander off.”

The yamen gates stood wide open, without even gate guards at the entrance – anyone could walk inside.

The yamen officials were about to finish their day’s work. A clerk had packed up his things, and seeing no one around, couldn’t help but twist his stiff waist from sitting. He walked while twisting, and just as he was really getting into it, he caught sight of Fu Yong standing in the courtyard and was startled. His waist gave a crack as it twisted wrong.

His eyes widened immediately, and he couldn’t help crying “Ow, ow, ow!”

Fu Yong, who had been curiously observing the yamen hall that was completely different from his memories, heard the crack and turned to look.

He rolled up his sleeves, walked over and pressed on the man’s waist. After rubbing it, he said, “Relax, don’t move around.”

“You, you, you – who are you? The yamen has finished for the day. If there’s no urgent matter, please come back tomorrow.” Sensing him applying force, the clerk shouted, “Don’t, don’t, don’t! I’ll handle it myself. I just need to sit for a while.”

Fu Yong smiled and said, “This is a misaligned muscle – it won’t get better just by sitting.”

As he spoke, taking advantage of the man’s distraction, he applied force with his hands. With a crack, the clerk’s waist straightened.

The clerk cried out loudly in alarm, then felt the dull pain in his waist disappear. He carefully turned around, his eyes brightening. “Hey, it’s better!”

Fu Yong smiled at him.

Only then did the clerk look him over properly. Seeing his refined and cultured manner, unlike an ordinary farmer, he asked, “What’s your name? What brings you to the county yamen? Although we’ve finished for the day, I can help you with anything that’s not particularly important.”

“I am Fu Yong from Beidi. I came to the county yamen hoping to inquire about some information.”

The clerk looked curious. “You came to the county yamen to inquire about information? Are you asking about policies? What do you want to know?”

Seeing how calm and accepting he was of this reason for coming, Fu Yong couldn’t help but soften even more. Smiling, he said, “I came to inquire about the Great General and Minister Fu. I…”

“Audacious!” Before Fu Yong could finish, the clerk who had been friendly and polite instantly became angry and stern. “How dare the likes of you pry into the Great General and Minister Fu’s affairs?”

The clerk was actually somewhat younger than Fu Yong. He had been admitted through the school examinations. Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan were teachers to all the students and were regarded by him as second parents. What he hated most was people prying into Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan’s affairs, attempting to separate them or come between them.

How was this different from separating his own parents?

Looking again at Fu Yong’s fair face – indeed, Fu Yong had inherited the Fu family’s skin that didn’t tan easily. Even though his hands and feet were covered in calluses and various small scars, his face remained fair and tender. Before the clerk who had just endured summer’s scorching sun, he was practically glowing white.

The clerk immediately understood. He took two steps back, and even though Fu Yong had just fixed his waist for him, he still unceremoniously muttered under his breath, “Pretty boy!”

Fu Yong was speechless.

His estimation of this Great General immediately took shape in his mind. After a wordless pause, he said, “Brother, I am Fu Yong, from the Beidi Fu clan. Fu Tinghan is my elder brother!”

The clerk’s expression froze. He looked Fu Yong up and down suspiciously. “Is that true? I haven’t heard that Minister Fu has any brothers.”

Fu Hong, standing behind, couldn’t help but interject, “Of course he does – cousins!”

The clerk wasn’t sure anymore. He looked at Fu Yong, then at Fu Hong, and asked, “Do you have any proof?”

Proof?

They really didn’t have any. The household register was with his father and hadn’t been brought out of the mountains. He did have a jade pendant he was planning to pawn that was passed down in the Fu family. He remembered his eldest cousin also had one, but would a small county yamen clerk recognize it?

Fu Yong still took out the jade pendant and said, “This is our Fu family’s jade pendant. My eldest brother also has one.”

The clerk immediately took the jade pendant when he saw it and examined it carefully, then turned and walked away.

Fu Yong was startled and quickly followed.

The clerk went straight into an office room. Holding the jade pendant, he walked directly to a wall and began carefully comparing it to a portrait hanging there.

Fu Yong stopped in his tracks. Fu Hong, who had caught up, also froze.

The modest office room had two desks on either side, with rows of shelves behind them stacked with numerous books and documents. On the right wall near the entrance hung two paintings. In one, a person’s sleeves billowed, their gaze bright and smiling as they looked ahead, with handsome, strikingly familiar features.

The person in the painting wore a jade pendant at their waist. The clerk was now pressed against the wall, carefully comparing the pendants.

Fu Hong stared at the person in the painting, dumbstruck. “This… elder brother, this person looks somewhat like you.”

Without turning his head, Fu Yong said, “It’s I who look like him, you fool. This is our eldest cousin.”

Fu Hong stared blankly. Was this Fu Zhangong?

So many years without seeing him – he had almost forgotten what he looked like.

Fu Yong, however, went directly to look at the other painting hanging alongside Fu Tinghan’s. The painting depicted a general with a face bright as the clear moon, wearing armor with a long spear standing behind her. She raised her eyes to look at the viewer, and at once captivated them.

Her gaze was bright and sharp, piercing straight to the heart. At first glance it could make one’s heart grow timid, as ifintimidation – an imposing pressure – weighed upon it. But looking again, one felt her gaze温和 – warm and又包容 – embracing, with the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, looking at the viewer with gentleness.

Without anyone needing to introduce her, Fu Yong knew – this was Zhao Hanzhang, the woman of Xiping’s Zhao clan, his unseen elder sister-in-law.

Fu Hong also stared, along with Guan Er, gazing blankly at the two people in the paintings.

The clerk finally finished comparing, stood up from the wall, and nodded at Fu Yong. “There is some resemblance, but I haven’t met Minister Fu myself, so I can’t be certain. However, our county magistrate has met him. Wait here – I’ll go fetch the county magistrate right away. If you truly are the teacher’s brother, we’ll certainly treat you well. But if you’re not…”

Fu Yong immediately replied, “I’m willing to accept severe punishment.”

The clerk tucked the jade pendant into his clothes and led them to stand in the main hall. “Wait a moment. I’ll be right back.”