In early spring, there were many matters to handle. After the emperor dealt with them one by one, he summoned Governor Niu and Yang Heshu waiting in the side hall to meet him.
Manbao and County Magistrate Tang straightened up simultaneously, looking ahead with concern.
Yang Heshu followed behind Governor Niu and entered the hall, kneeling down to salute.
The emperor sat at the head, gazing deeply at the two and asked, "With smallpox raging in Xiazhou, what do you two have to say?"
Governor Niu paused. Before the officials from the Ministry of Justice and Punishments arrived in Xiazhou, he had thought of pinning Yang Heshu's insubordination against his own equal share of the blame.
But when the officials from the Ministry of Justice and Punishments personally arrived in Xiazhou, purportedly to investigate, it was actually to escort him and his son. He vaguely sensed the capital's attitude.
Perhaps the Yang Family was at play in the court.
