บท 1726: Unwilling

At this juncture, taking charge could mean that the Prefect Lord might delegate this troublesome matter to Deputy Prefect Guan – a potential invitation for trouble.

After careful consideration, Deputy Prefect Guan decided to continue his "recuperation."

Secretly, he harbored a hope that Shao Yunduan would face difficulties. The prospect of mountain bandits seizing more rice seeds excited him. He envisioned a scenario where Shao Yunduan, desperate and unfortunate, would turn to him for help, allowing Deputy Prefect Guan to reclaim his dignity.

However, even in "recuperation," peace eluded him. To gain insights, he urged his wife to visit Madam Shao in the east courtyard frequently. He hoped to glean information from Madam Shao.

Mrs. Guan resisted the idea. She had no inclination to visit Qiao Xuan without reason. Her desire to surpass Qiao Xuan clashed with her realization that she consistently fell short.