Chapter 385: Wuyang Shows His Might and Punishes the Corrupt Official

It was lively here, yet two people were watching from the shadows.

"Is that him?" one asked.

"That's right, tsk..." the other replied, their tone full of disdain, seemingly looking down on the person they were talking about.

The one who asked said no more, only watching the events at the village entrance with cold eyes, a sense of disgust for that corrupt official rising within—was this, then, what they called a person...

Outside the village, things were in a mess, with both sides at a stalemate; Long Qi and the others had no time to attend to anything else, focused only on shielding the villagers behind them.

Seeing someone ruining their fun, the County Magistrate flew into a rage, shouting to have them arrested and thrown into prison to face harsh punishment. Just as they were cursing and ordering the sprawled-out bailiffs, Zhao Wuyang strolled out from the village.

"Let's see who dares!"

The County Magistrate was already furious, and upon seeing the small-statured Zhao Wuyang, their anger burned even hotter.

Where did this wet-behind-the-ears brat come from? Not even fully grown, yet daring to bark at a Grand Duke? Do they really think I'm made of dough?

The County Magistrate rolled their eyes, lifted their fat head, and made a decision—they absolutely had to teach these people a lesson; if word got out and they lost their dignity, how would they govern in the future?

Looking at the bloated County Magistrate, the Private Secretary shook their head helplessly.

The Private Secretary's original surname was Gao, and they were considered to be from a scholarly family, but when young and impulsive, they offended a local power broker. To avoid implicating their family, they changed their identity to their mother's surname, Jiang, and left their homeland far behind.

Private Secretary Jiang was an upright person who could not stand injustice. The reason they got into trouble back then was because local power brokers were bullying the market and forcing ordinary families into a dead end; out of indignation, they had committed a grave mistake.

After leaving, Private Secretary Jiang reflected deeply and resolved to make a name for themselves. But without family backing, walking the world alone, they were repeatedly turned away, deeply experiencing the hardships of it all.

In the current world, without support, who would look twice at someone with no background? Even with world-shaking talent, one would be buried in the dust.

After suffering many setbacks, Private Secretary Jiang had wanted to give up, but at that moment, they happened to meet Head Instructor Qin—the officer leading the bailiffs—who had come to seek out a distant relative.

One with grand ambitions, the other full of aspirations, the two felt they had met too late, so they traveled together and joined the County Magistrate's service. Although the County Magistrate was foolish, they remembered the family connection and gave the two the positions of Private Secretary and Chief Constable.

Given the County Magistrate's ability, these two positions were not considered low, and Jiang and Qin were very grateful, doing their utmost to assist the County Magistrate.

But who would have thought that a distant relative of unknown character would suddenly appear, coaxing that fool into losing all sense of direction? The administration, which had been passable, became a complete mess after they arrived.

Even worse, that relative used their power to bully others, not only amassing countless wealth in secret but also oppressing men and women, committing all sorts of evil.

These were all things Long Qi and their party had heard from the mouths of the villagers.

According to them, it was fortunate that Private Secretary Jiang had mediated and Chief Constable Qin had secretly helped, so life had been manageable. But ever since the disaster occurred, the evil deeds of the County Magistrate and that relative had become increasingly worse.

Although City Lord Zhao never participated in politics and had never been taught state affairs, Zhao Wuyang understood that as a member of the imperial family, one must shoulder the responsibilities of their position.

Today, they would eradicate this scourge and return justice to the people.

"Go! Take those people down!"

The County Magistrate still did not know they were courting death, shouting at the top of their lungs, but those bailiffs just looked at each other, none daring to move.

"What are you dazed for? Are you all dead?" The County Magistrate was furious, twisting their fat neck and cursing incessantly, the spittle nearly spraying onto Long Qi's face.

"Jiang Ting County Magistrate, do you know your crime?" Zhao Wuyang's expression was stern, their tone high and forceful, not at all like their usual gentle self.

It was the first time the others had seen Zhao Wuyang like this; Long Qi and Liu Xia could not help but glance over, only Xin Yi stood very calmly, expressionless behind Zhao Wuyang.

"Audacious! How dare you speak to the County Magistrate like that!" the lackey beside the County Magistrate shouted.

The County Magistrate was stunned for a moment, and thanks to the lackey's shout, they came back to their senses. They laughed incessantly, the fat on their face trembling, thick grease seemingly ready to drip off.

"Which blade of grass are you? How dare you speak to your master like that?"

They only thought the brat before them had gone insane, actually daring to hold them accountable?

Although this person was dim-witted, they had been an official for several years, so how could they be bluffed by two sentences from Zhao Wuyang? But what happened next left them completely baffled.

They saw Xin Yi take a gold medal from their waist and announce loudly, looking every bit the guard: "The Guyang King Gold Medal is here; to see the medal is to see the sovereign. Why have you not knelt yet!"

The County Magistrate ruled their own little patch and knew nothing of any Guyang King, and the lackey beside them understood even less, but Private Secretary Jiang and Chief Constable Qin knew, yet the two of them did not kneel as ordered.

"Please forgive the intrusion, may I please examine the gold medal," Private Secretary Jiang said, stepping forward.

Receiving a nod from Zhao Wuyang, Xin Yi handed over the gold medal. Private Secretary Jiang took the medal, weighed it in their hand, and carefully examined the dragon-pattern seal script and the gold-threaded silk cord on the medal before returning it to Xin Yi.

As soon as the gold medal left their hand, Private Secretary Jiang knelt down in a grand salute, crying out: "Long live the Guyang King."

Although Private Secretary Jiang had never seen the Guyang King, they knew from their scholarly family background that the kind of gold thread on the medal could only be used by members of the imperial family.

Once Private Secretary Jiang knelt, Chief Constable Qin naturally followed suit. Seeing the two of them pay their respects, those bailiffs and villagers knelt down one after another, their faces filled with fear and unease.

Seeing the situation, the County Magistrate did not know what to do for a moment and was about to ask the person beside them, but their lackey had long since run off. Now they panicked, yet still argued stubbornly: "What damn Guyang King? How come this official has never heard of such a thing?"

This was, of course, the County Magistrate quibbling. When the Guyang King abdicated in favor of the worthy, it had shaken the imperial court; the Right Prime Minister was so angry they struck a pillar in court, and the Left Chancellor even threatened to resign. Yet even so, the Guyang King had not retreated a single step.

Who in the entire Tianchao did not know of this? Who was unaware? Yet the County Magistrate was still quibbling.

Zhao Wuyang paid no heed, adopting a commanding tone and ordering the bailiffs to take the County Magistrate, but none of those bailiffs dared to step forward. These bailiffs had long been oppressed by the County Magistrate; how could they dare to touch them?

Seeing this, Chief Constable Qin did not say a word, simply rose with a salute, and stepped forward to seize the County Magistrate who was trying to flee.

The captured County Magistrate cursed incessantly, calling Chief Constable Qin ungrateful and Private Secretary Jiang a traitor, not a single good word coming out of their mouth.

Chief Constable Qin, who had been silent all along, spoke up at this moment: "Although we are relatives, you are steeped in evil and deserve to be brought to justice. Moreover, I am acting under orders, so I hope the County Magistrate will stop struggling."

After saying this, Chief Constable Qin said no more, simply tore a sweat-towel from their waist and stuffed it into the County Magistrate's mouth.

"Jiang Ting County Magistrate, you have oppressed the people, your virtue does not match your position, and your talent is insufficient for your duties. You are ordered to be thrown into prison, and I shall write a report to be delivered to the Imperial Censor to determine your final sentence." Zhao Wuyang stood with their back straight. "All affairs of the Jiang Ting County Office shall be temporarily managed by Private Secretary Jiang, with Chief Constable Qin assisting. I hope you will all be honest and upright, governing for the sake of the people, covering them like the sky and containing them like the earth; do not fail the heavens."

This series of commands was sonorous and powerful, ringing out clearly, not at all like their usual gentle self, causing Long Qi and Liu Xia to stare continuously.

Zhao Wuyang felt uncomfortable being stared at, and the firm gaze they had just held suddenly became evasive—

Were they...

Being disliked?