Transmigrated into a female county magistrate during a famine, leading her country to prosperity

Chapter 1282 Testing the Match

After having a hearty breakfast, Shen Zheng declined Yu Shizhang's invitation to play mahjong and went alone to the courtyard where Mu Ruojue was.

Counting the days, it has been almost two months since they returned to Liuyang Prefecture, but she has been entangled in all sorts of trivial matters and has not been able to take care of Mu Ruojue.

I wonder if he has adapted to life here, and if he feels lonely on weekdays.

Thinking of Mu Ruojue's quiet and reserved nature, Shen Zheng felt a pang of guilt.

The emperor trusted her, which is why he entrusted the young boy, Mu Ruojue, with a special background and a quiet demeanor, to her care. However, she was preoccupied with official duties and failed to fulfill her responsibilities as a parent.

Thinking of this, she quickened her pace.

Before they even reached the courtyard gate, Fang Ziyan's pained cry rang out: "Nan Shu, you need to move your left foot a little more to the left. You're stepping on my collarbone, it hurts..."

"Okay..." After a moment, Yu Nanshu asked again, "How about this? Does it still hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore." Fang Ziyan chuckled. "How about it? Did you see him?"

Yu Nanshu hummed in agreement: "There's no one in the courtyard. He's probably still in the room. Ziyan, could you stand up a little higher? I'll climb over and take a look."

Fang Ziyan shook his head: "No, Nan Shu, I can't stand steadily on tiptoe, I'll make you fall."

"It's alright!" Yu Nanshu climbed onto the wall and urged, "Quick, Zhao Qi, give Cui Jinyin a hand and get me up here!"

No sooner had they finished speaking than another voice joined in: "Gentlemen, should I lend a hand? More people means more help."

The group was startled by the sound and turned around.

Shen Zheng had been watching from the side for who knows how long.

"Sister Shen!" Yu Nanshu exclaimed in shock, secretly pushing off with her toes as she whispered, "Ziyan, Ziyan, put me down! I won't flip over anymore!"

"Squeak-"

As soon as Yu Nanshu finished speaking, the courtyard gate opened, and Mu Ruojue stood inside, staring at them expressionlessly. Even so, his features were still strikingly handsome.

At this moment, Yu Nanshu was still standing on Fang Ziyan's shoulder.

"..."

An awkward silence fell over the room. Finally, Shen Zheng, trying to make conversation, asked Mu Ruojue, "Did I disturb you?"

Mu Ruojue remained silent for a moment, then shook her head.

The scene became awkward again. Fang Ziyan suppressed his urge to run away and squatted down to let Yu Nanshu get off the ground.

"Well..." Yu Nanshu touched the back of her neck and forced a smile, "We were just worried because you didn't come out for breakfast this morning, so we thought we'd come and check on you..."

Mu Ruojue glanced at the courtyard gate and said softly, "I don't live alone in this courtyard. The gate isn't locked, so you can come in directly."

To Yu Nanshu and her friends, these words were no less than an invitation to play.

"Really?" Yu Nanshu squeezed into the courtyard.

“Then we won’t stand on ceremony,” Fang Ziyan said, following closely behind.

"I...I brought you some food..." Cui Jinyin said shyly, handing over the food box.

Shen Zheng and Pei Zhaoqi brought up the rear and were the last to enter the courtyard.

Suddenly, several more people appeared in front of her, and Mu Ruojue felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Shen Zheng asked him to sit down in the pavilion, but instead of asking him directly, "Have you been happy lately?" or "Are you having any trouble adjusting?", she asked, "How are the new matches coming along? Is the igniter still prone to getting damp?"

The tension in Mu Ruojue's eyes gradually subsided, and she stood up and said, "Please wait a moment, I'll go get it for you to see."

Shen Zheng nodded, while Yu Nanshu and the others looked on with curiosity.

After a while, Mu Ruojue still hadn't returned when footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

A constable stood at the door and reported, "Sir, there is a young master surnamed Xin outside the yamen who wishes to see you."

Shen Zheng paused for a moment.

I woke up and almost forgot about this person...

"Just bring him over here," Shen Zheng said.

The constable had only been gone a short while when Mu Ruojue returned carrying a wooden box filled with countless small matches.

"Did you make all of these?" Fang Ziyan moved closer and closer, his eyes overflowing with admiration.

Mu Ruojue took a small step back, presented the box to him, and formally invited, "Would you... like to try it?"

No one knows how much courage it took for him to say those words.

Because he was afraid of being rejected, he secretly observed Fang Ziyan's expression.

"Yes! Yes!"

As if afraid he might change his mind, Fang Ziyan immediately took out a match from the box, held it in his palm, and asked, "How do I try it?"

Seeing the curiosity and sincerity in Fang Ziyan's eyes, Mu Ruojue secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Strike it here," he said, pointing to the side of the box. "Use a little force, and the match head will light. Once it's lit, don't hold the match head down, or you'll burn your fingers."

Fang Ziyan was stunned upon hearing this.

"Young Master Mu, we've known each other for several months, and this is the first time you've spoken to me at such length and shown so much concern..."

Faced with Fang Ziyan's blunt expression, Mu Ruojue slowly lowered her head, her ears turning slightly red.

Cui Jinyin watched with wide eyes.

"Try it quickly, Ziyan." Only Yu Nanshu's mind and eyes were full of matches.

"Oh, oh good!" Fang Ziyan slowly placed the match head against the side of the box, his expression and posture were so devout that it was unbelievable.

"What are you doing!" Suddenly, a shout came from the courtyard gate.

Fang Ziyan's fingers trembled in fright.

"Cha-"

"boom--"

The match just went off like that.

A foot-high flame leaped from Fang Ziyan's fingertips. He exclaimed "Wow!" and called out to Xin Ji at the courtyard gate, "Xin Ji, Xin Ji, come here quickly, there's something fun!"

Shen Zheng stared at the flame on Fang Ziyan's fingertip, her expression suddenly froze, and she completely ignored Xin Ji at the door.

At this moment, she only wanted to know one thing—why could the flames of the matches Mu Ruojue made leap up half a meter high after being lit?

That was a flame nearly half a meter high...

If Fang Ziyan had gotten any closer, he wouldn't have been able to save his nose hairs and eyelashes, let alone the tuft of hair on his forehead!

While Fang Ziyan was greeting Xin Ji, Shen Zheng immediately asked Mu Ruojue, "Did you find Phosphorus?"

Mu Ruojue neither nodded nor shook her head: "I don't know if it is, but it can indeed make the fire bigger."

Just as Shen Zheng was about to ask him what color it was, Xin Ji had already arrived in front of them.

"Mu Ruojue?!" Xin Ji stared at Mu Ruojue, his face showing shock no less than if he had swallowed a live rat: "How did you end up at the Tong'an County government office?!"

Shen Zheng and Fang Ziyan were also surprised: "You know each other?!"

Did Xin Ji and Mu Ruojue know each other?

Why do these two people who have absolutely no connection know each other?

“I know him!” Xin Ji said. “Isn’t he Mu Ruojue?”

With that face that's utterly reprehensible, how could he possibly admit his mistake?

Mu Ruojue slowly backed away, clutching the wooden box, her brows furrowing. "I don't know you."

"You don't recognize me?!" Xin Ji spun around on the spot, pointed at herself, and said, "Me! Xin Ji! Xin as in hard work, Ji as in season!"