Chapter 27: Search for Me

"Presumptuous! Who are you?"

He swept a cold gaze over the man; having been a County Magistrate for many days, he naturally possessed an air of authority that commanded respect without anger. Although Shen Yu had already guessed who the visitor was, he could not afford to lose his composure.

"I am the private secretary of the Changling Jun Prefect's office. I am here by the order of the Prefect to take you into custody!"

"Oh? By the order of the Prefect? What a joke! My official position was appointed by the Imperial Court. You want to take me into custody? Do you have a document from the Ministry of Personnel? Do you have an official warrant from the Ministry of Justice?"

"This, you..."

"So, you have nothing!" Shen Yu couldn't help but sneer, saying indifferently, "You have nothing at all, yet you dare to bark wildly in my Baian County. And you say it isn't a joke!"

Shaking his head in disdain, Shen Yu's eyes were full of mockery. Never mind a mere private secretary; even if the Prefect himself arrived, so what? If he didn't care to pay him any mind, he wouldn't. Shen Yu's attitude made the private secretary across from him itch with hatred.

A Fourth-Rank official's gatekeeper is like a Fourth-Rank official himself; he had followed the Prefect for many years and was his most trusted confidant. In the past, whenever he went out, who wouldn't give him some face? But this young County Magistrate was nothing but a hot-headed youth. Sure enough, he was still young and didn't understand the ways of the world!

If he had treated him well with food and drink and found a way to show some filial respect, perhaps he, as a private secretary, could have put in a good word. However, since this little County Magistrate had killed the young master, saving his life was impossible, but at least he could have suffered a little less—he believed he still had the ability to ensure that much.

But now, this little County Magistrate was glaring at him right from the start. Damn it, did he really think he had a good temper?

Young man, you have narrowed your own path!

"Magistrate, do you really think that just because others call you 'sir,' you are actually something? You want documents from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Justice? What a joke! In this Changling Jun, what the Prefect says is the law! Men, take him away!"

"Let's see who dares!" Just at this moment, Zhou Yuan's voice rang out from outside. Following him were many constables and Yamen Runners from the County Government Office, and a crowd of them rushed over, pressing in like a dark cloud.

"What is this? With so many people surrounding us, are you trying to rebel?"

"Oh, private secretary, please don't misunderstand. They aren't rebelling; they are catching thieves—thieves who have no regard for the law!" As he spoke, Shen Yu glanced at the private secretary and asked coldly, "Private secretary, may I ask what your official rank and position are?"

"You, I!" This question truly struck a nerve. If he hadn't failed the imperial examinations, why would he be working as a staffer for someone else? A staffer, naturally, has no official rank or position, but it depends on whose side you are on—and he was the Prefect's man!

"So, you have no official rank or position? A private secretary with no rank or position dares to bring troops to arrest an official appointed by the Imperial Court? Who gave you the authority? The Prefect? Even he does not have the qualifications to dismiss me from my post!"

"You, you are simply being presumptuous!"

"This official is being presumptuous, so what!" Watching the private secretary's furious yet helpless expression, Shen Yu felt a sense of comfort throughout his body for some reason. The fatigue of the past few days seemed to be swept away. If he could land two punches on his face, it would be even better.

"Boom! Boom!" Just at this moment, the drum at the County Government Office was struck, causing Shen Yu to frown slightly. He had been prepared to press his advantage and ideally anger the private secretary to death, but the drum had to sound at this very moment. Once the drum sounded, he had to ascend the hall to hear a case.

"This official has official business to attend to, so I will not entertain you all any further!" Turning around, Shen Yu ignored the obviously ugly expressions on their faces, straightened his official robes, and walked out, leaving the private secretary and his group staring blankly.

"Arrogant, simply too arrogant! I want to see how long he can remain so arrogant!"

Shen Yu didn't hear a word of the private secretary's gnashing of teeth. Even if he had, he would only have chuckled—it was just the impotent barking of a loser.

At this moment, Shen Yu had already entered the main hall, but he saw an unexpected person there. Sun Heling, the richest man in Baian County—what was he doing here?

As the richest man in Baian County, he had previously been known as one of the three great families alongside Cai Zhong's Cai Family and Feng Zhong's Feng Family. Who among ordinary people would dare to provoke him? What kind of matter could require such a grand display?

Although he was full of doubts and recognized the man, Shen Yu still followed the procedure and asked, "Who is below the hall?"

"My Lord! This commoner Sun Heling, I am here to file a complaint!"

"Oh? And may I ask whom you, Master Sun, wish to accuse? And for what matter?"

"My Lord, I wish to accuse the Baian County Magistrate, Shen Yu! I accuse him of forcibly seizing a woman and treating human life like dirt!" After finishing, Sun Heling immediately bowed his body and buried his head low, fearing to meet Shen Yu's gaze from the high hall.

"Accuse me?" Hearing this, Shen Yu almost thought he had misheard. Although he had successively removed Cai Zhong and Feng Zhong during this period, he had never moved against the Sun family. Sun Heling, the richest man in Baian County, had always been well-behaved and was not as arrogant or domineering as Cai Zhong and the others.

To suddenly show up and accuse him right to his face truly left Shen Yu somewhat astonished.

"A pack of lies! Sun Heling, do you know what the penalty is for slandering an official of the Imperial Court? Who gave you such courage?"

"Every word this commoner says is true. A few days ago, Magistrate, you came to my house as a guest, took a fancy to my newly adopted goddaughter, and regardless of our obstruction, forcibly abducted her back to the County Government Office. I learned from a maid at the office that my goddaughter refused to submit even unto death, and in your embarrassment and rage, you threw her alive into the well!"

"My daughter, oh, why is your fate so bitter!"

"Damn it!" The other party's words made Shen Yu's heart tremble, but this acting was far too fake. He was just howling without any tears. Big brother, could you put a little more heart into it!

It must be said that these rich people are all the same, always liking to adopt goddaughters. Cai Zhong was like this, and so was Sun Heling, and they both liked to pin the blame on him.

"No, this is bad!" In an instant, a bad premonition arose in Shen Yu's heart. Since Sun Heling dared to come and file a complaint, it wouldn't be without cause; he must have prepared something. And the timing of his arrival was far too coincidental.

Frowning slightly, Shen Yu immediately glanced at Zhou Yuan beside him without leaving a trace. Zhou Yuan seemed to understand and immediately prepared to slip away quietly, but he was blocked by someone nearby.

"You are the head constable of Baian County, right? Where are you going? Are you trying to destroy the evidence of your crimes?" Just then, the private secretary from the Prefecture Office arrived with soldiers and blocked Zhou Yuan.

"This victim, rest assured. I have come on behalf of the Prefect. Whatever grievances you have, you can tell me!" With a cold snort, the private secretary strode forward, looking righteous and determined to seek justice for the people.

"I have them, I have grievances!" Seeming to have found his backbone, Sun Heling immediately said loudly, "I want to accuse the Baian County Magistrate, Shen Yu. He forcibly seized my goddaughter in front of my servants. Afterward, just because my goddaughter refused to submit to preserve her purity, he flew into a rage and threw my poor daughter alive into the well!"

"Oh? Is there any evidence?"

"There is! My servants can testify that he forcibly seized the woman. The maids at the County Government Office also saw with their own eyes my poor daughter being thrown into the well by him. They can all testify!"

"Shocking! Lawless!" The two sang in harmony, and the private secretary even put on a heartbroken look, nearly declaring that he and evil forces could not coexist.

"The Magistrate is a good official; how could he do such a thing!"

"You can know a person's face but not their heart. Who knows what these people are like behind closed doors?"

The scene unfolding in the County Government Office caused the watching crowd to discuss it heatedly, and it was clear that someone was manipulating the narrative, making public opinion increasingly unfavorable for Shen Yu. It must be said that the common people are often followers, and it is very easy to lead them astray.

"Impossible! The Magistrate would never do such a thing!" Hand on his blade, Zhou Yuan's eyes widened in anger. He knew full well this was a trap set by someone!

"Whether he did it or not, a search will reveal the truth. The victim says his goddaughter was thrown into the well. Since that is the case, then search. If nothing is found, it naturally proves this person is slandering the Magistrate. But if she is found, Magistrate, then I am sorry... Heh heh!"

"Men, search! And be sure not to wrong Magistrate Shen!"