Chapter 504: Are You Sure You Aren't Trying to Fool Me?

After stepping out of there, Shen Yu did not immediately return to the state capital, but instead wandered around various parts of Xiaozhou.

In terms of environment and scenery alone, Xiaozhou could indeed be called beautiful. He wandered around, firstly to relax his mood, and secondly to conduct surprise inspections of various places.

As time passed, it was hard to guarantee that no one would become slack. Furthermore, he had scattered a massive amount of silver over this past year; profit moves the heart, and it would be bad if someone were to dip their hands into the till.

After wandering through more than half of Xiaozhou, he was generally satisfied. After all, his reputation for being ruthless and leaving no survivors had a considerable deterrent effect on those corrupt officials.

Coupled with the Black-Clad Guard monitoring all directions, any slight disturbance would reach his ears, which made people even more afraid to act.

Originally, Shen Yu's mood was quite good after this round. However, when he appeared in Yi Cheng, the scene before his eyes instantly turned his mood sour.

On the streets of Yi Cheng, a group of ragged commoners were kneeling in unison in front of a Brothel, seemingly begging for something incessantly.

For more than a year now, with the major projects in Xiaozhou starting one after another, the entire Xiaozhou had been set in motion.

The money he gave was plenty, enough for these commoners to support a whole family with some left over. With money, at the very least, they would buy their children a set of clothes and have a full meal.

Except for a very few impoverished areas, Shen Yu had not seen so many ragged people in all the time he had been wandering around Xiaozhou.

The commoners before him were not only barely covered in rags, but also as sallow and thin as ever; this was not just a lack of warm clothing, but a lack of even food to eat.

Then where was the money they were owed? It couldn't be that none of it was distributed at all. These corrupt officials truly had immense gall!

He had originally proudly assumed that the Black-Clad Guard monitored all directions and any slight disturbance would be reported up. And he himself had a formidable reputation.

The officials in Xiaozhou lived in constant trepidation every day, fearing that the blade would fall upon them at any moment. Daring to embezzle his money? That was truly not wanting to live!

But now it seemed that there were indeed people who did not want to live. Even though thousands of corrupt officials had died at his hands, there were still those who would take the risk to challenge his bottom line.

Moreover, the news here had not reached his ears in the slightest. Could it be that even the Black-Clad Guard was useless, choosing to collude in the face of profit?

That couldn't be, did they have such great courage?

"Manager Qian, could you please give this official some face!"

Among the crowd, Shen Yu also saw someone who surprised him: the newly appointed Assistant Prefect of Xiaozhou, Chu Hong!

Those commoners were all kneeling on the ground, but only he and the few Constables beside him were standing there, which was very conspicuous.

Kneeling before this Brothel, every one of these commoners seemed to have a glimmer of light on their faces, staring straight at Chu Hong as if expecting something.

"Lord Chu, I respect you as the Assistant Prefect of Xiaozhou, which is why I give you some face, but what is the meaning of this now?"

"Manager Qian, I just want to ask you to return Miss Qinghan!"

"Lord Chu, it's not that I don't want to help them, it's just that the little money they offered is not enough, far from enough."

"Do you know that Miss Qinghan is our top attraction here? Without enough ransom, I cannot answer to those above or below!"

"You! Fine, just you wait, this official still has some! Come, lend this official some of the silver you have on you!"

While speaking, Chu Hong took out some silver from his own person, and even borrowed from the Constables beside him.

Chu Hong was likely the first to borrow money from his subordinates. Looking at those Constables with their bitter faces and reluctance, one could tell they were certainly feeling the pinch.

Following others out, they were all there to scrape up some profit; following this one, they had to pay out of their own pockets. What kind of world is this!

"Heh!" Taking the loose silver from Chu Hong's hands, Manager Qian tossed it around casually, his face full of disdain.

"Lord Chu, sorry, this bit of money is still not enough, it's far too short. Please forgive me for being unable to agree!"

"Manager Qian!" At this point, Chu Hong could not help but get a bit angry; he was not the type to swallow his pride anyway. Being able to endure until now was already quite something.

"Are you really unwilling to release her? One cannot be too greedy!"

"Then don't trouble yourself, Lord Chu!" Saying this, he glared at Chu Hong with eyes full of contempt; he didn't take him seriously at all.

Just a poor scholar, even if he became an Assistant Prefect, he still couldn't change his penniless nature. What was he putting on airs for in front of him?

If it weren't for the fear of that person at the State Yamen, he would have long since had people beat this poor scholar and the kneeling peasants out.

With this bunch of people acting like this, how were they supposed to do business?

"Miss Qinghan signed a deed of sale. She is our person in life, and even in death, she still belongs to us. No one can take her away!"

"Lord Chu, the deed of sale is written here in black and white. Even if you are the Assistant Prefect, you must pay money to redeem someone!"

"You, you people!"

"What, is the Assistant Prefect angry? Being angry is useless. If you have the money, take the person. If you don't, then I'm sorry, I cannot comply."

"Men, see the guests out!"

"You, you!" Seeing Chu Hong rolling up his sleeves and about to fight them, the Constables beside him hurriedly held him back.

"My Lord, please calm down. They have the deed of sale in their hands; we are not in the right here!"

"Bullshit! You are just afraid of him and dare not fight him, you think this official can't tell? Get lost, this official is going to snatch the person out today no matter what!"

"My Lord, no, absolutely not!" Several people desperately blocked Chu Hong, refusing to let him rush up.

It wasn't that they looked down on this Assistant Prefect, but this weak scholar couldn't even beat them; rushing up would just be serving himself up on a platter and wouldn't have any effect.

The thugs here were all fierce and menacing, and all possessed martial arts; they were notoriously difficult to deal with.

If this Lord Chu were to be beaten into a bad state by these thugs, how would they answer to those above?

"Chu Hong, as a dignified Assistant Prefect of Xiaozhou, you aren't thinking of rushing up to fight for your life like a brute, are you?"

"When you run into trouble, can't you call for backup? Just place the Black-Clad Guard's men here, and see if they still dare to be arrogant."

Leaping down from the eaves, Shen Yu glared at him with a look of disappointment. An Assistant Prefect of a state, at least a significant official, yet he was learning to roll up his sleeves and fight.

If he could win, that would be fine, but if he couldn't, wouldn't he lose all his dignity, and along with it, the dignity of the Xiaozhou State Yamen?

"My Lord!" Seeing the suddenly appearing Shen Yu, Chu Hong's face flushed red, and he hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

"This subordinate is ashamed!"

"Indeed, you should be ashamed. An Assistant Prefect being troubled like this by a Brothel, you don't want face, but this official still does!"

"This subordinate, this subordinate..." Scolded until he was full of embarrassment, Chu Hong stammered for a long time before whispering again.

"My Lord, could, could you lend this subordinate some money?"

"Borrowing money to redeem that so-called Miss Qinghan?" Upon hearing this, Shen Yu was instantly furious. Lust is a blade hanging over one's head, do you know that!

"Chu Hong, how long have you been here and you already have a lover, and you even want to redeem a Brothel woman?"

"I do not object to you having this hobby, but do not let it interfere with your official duties; furthermore, if you have no money in your pocket, do not try to play the hero saving a damsel!"

"Just now, you didn't have enough money for the ransom; were you planning to rob them in broad daylight? A dignified Assistant Prefect—if you aren't ashamed, I am!"

"My lord, you have misunderstood; Miss Qinghan is not my lover. Redeeming Miss Qinghan is the wish of these commoners!"

"These commoners? They want to redeem a woman from a Brothel? Are you sure you aren't trying to fool me?"

Turning his head to glance at the commoners kneeling on the ground, Shen Yu could not help but frown.

"I recall that Gu Bingsheng is supposed to be in charge here; how is he doing his job, and why are there still so many people who cannot eat their fill or dress warmly?"

"Has he embezzled all the money allocated by the State Yamen? He has a lot of nerve. Where is Gu Bingsheng? Tell him to get over here and see me!"

"My lord, you have misunderstood; Prefect Gu has not embezzled a single coin. All the silver was handed over to the commoners in full!"

"Handed over to the commoners in full? Then what is going on with them?"

"My lord, these people are the commoners of Qiaoshan Village. It is not that Prefect Gu embezzled that money; the money was indeed distributed into their hands, but it was saved up by these commoners!"

"Because they wanted to redeem someone, the entire village has been living frugally, unwilling to eat or dress well, just to be able to scrape together enough silver."

"A group of starving commoners living frugally just to redeem a woman from a Brothel? Chu Hong, are you sure you aren't trying to fool me?"