Chapter 49: One Kneel, One Sure Shot; The Top Scholar Punishes Evil and Upholds Good

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, who had remained silent until now, slowly spoke, his tone leisurely yet icy: "The boss of Shangmu County, Master He, truly my deepest apologies for the lack of respect."

His words were light and frivolous, yet each one stabbed deep into He He Dachuan's heart.

"You even planned out my next life; truly, you have gone to great trouble."

Hearing this, He He Dachuan trembled violently, his legs suddenly giving way, nearly causing him to lose his balance. He finally recognized that this voice belonged to Lord Jiang, who had severely reprimanded him just an hour ago.

He never dreamed that Jiang Jiang Mingyu, who should have been staying in the county yamen, would actually appear here.

Even more unexpected was that his lawless son had actually managed to provoke Jiang Jiang Mingyu, this great disaster star.

Isn't this an old longevity star eating arsenic—dying of boredom?

Jiang Jiang Mingyu slowly turned around, a cold sneer on his lips, his gaze sharp as a blade and filled with endless contempt. He He Dachuan's blood seemed to flow backward, as if all his strength had been drained; like a rag doll, his legs gave way and he crashed to his knees with a thud.

Thinking of the reckless words he had just spoken, it was simply seeking death!

He He Muchen, who was being carried by others, heard this and immediately looked utterly confused: "Father, what are you doing?"

He complained loudly: "Hurry and order them to be beaten to death; I am still waiting to go back and find that little woman. Why have you stopped?"

He He Dachuan, furious with shame, scrambled up and slapped He He Muchen's chubby face hard several times, scolding angrily: "Useless thing, shut your mouth immediately!"

Seeing that He He Muchen finally fell silent, He He Dachuan knelt before Jiang Jiang Mingyu again, pleading: "My lord, please calm your anger; it is all because my rascal son did not understand. I beg you to show mercy and spare us!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, with his hands clasped behind his back, spoke leisurely: "Master He, just now were you not spouting reckless words, waiting for the foreign tribes to slaughter the city and watch the county people die and lie scattered on the ground?"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu spoke leisurely: "Master He, kneeling on the ground begging for mercy, where is the majesty of the boss of Shangmu County? Just now, your aggressive ruthlessness made me feel much more pleased."

He raised an eyebrow in mockery: "I am new here; who knows what day I might personally visit your door. Please, Master He, be sure to offer much guidance."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu said mockingly: "Should I also kneel down and kowtow properly to you? To you, the iron-clad master and the truly worthy boss of Shangmu County City?"

He He Dachuan was already in tears, pleading in a mournful voice: "My lord, please calm your anger; how would this humble one dare to dictate to you? It is all because my rascal son was confused; please, my lord, show mercy and spare him this once!"

Having said this, he carefully kowtowed to Jiang Jiang Mingyu again to beg for forgiveness.

Jiang Jiang Mingyu's brows furrowed tightly, his tone instantly turning cold and hard as iron: "You think you have a lot of face, do you?"

His eyes were like knives, scanning He He Dachuan's face sharply, making him feel as if he were falling into an ice cave.

He let out a cold sneer and shifted the topic.

"A father who evades taxes raises a beast of a son who forcibly snatches women of good families; your He family's upbringing truly opens my eyes!"

Cold light exploded in Jiang Jiang Mingyu's eyes, and his sense of justice surged: "If I had not witnessed it with my own eyes, this pitiful woman would have long been forcibly defiled by your pig-like son!"

He paused, then raised a hand and pointed, his force like a mountain: "Your son suffered a little flesh and blood injury, and you are so heartbroken you jump around. What, your son is a human, but other people's daughters are destined to be trampled by you?"

Even with the north wind howling, He He Dachuan was forced by him into a sweat like rain, his forehead to his spine already soaked through.

He was terrified in his heart and dared not look directly into Jiang Jiang Mingyu's gaze.

From every word Jiang Jiang Mingyu spoke, he felt overwhelming killing intent; his heart chilled, his whole body trembled, and he nearly fainted.

Thinking that his son had not only forcibly snatched a commoner's daughter but also fought with Jiang Jiang Mingyu.

He He Dachuan, kneeling on the ground, shivered uncontrollably, wishing he could immediately strangle this beast of a son, but alas, it was too late.

Helpless, He He Dachuan instantly transformed from arrogant and domineering to humble and servile, beginning to kowtow and bow vigorously, wearing a flattering, sycophantic expression: "Imperial Envoy, you are magnanimous; a general's arm can ride a horse, a prime minister's belly can sail a boat; we indeed deserve to die. I beg the lord to think thrice before acting, raise your hand high, and let us off this time!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu sneered: "I am merely an outsider; I cannot bear such flattery from Master He."

While kowtowing, he pretended to be overwhelmed with gratitude and praised: "My lord, your words are mistaken; you are simply too modest."

"Not to mention far away, in just a few days of your arrival, you solved the most critical heating problem in the city, achieving such earth-shattering great deeds; you are truly a living sage benefiting the region! This humble one has never in his life seen such a brilliant and divine talent; you are simply the savior sent by heaven to save us common people!"

"In this humble one's opinion, even if the foreign tribes came, they would certainly not be your match."

He even wiped away tears, moved, and clasped his hands together: "You are the great benefactor of the people of Shangmu County! The four words 'Great Lord of the Clear Sky' were simply tailor-made for you!"

He He Dachuan's face was thick to the extreme; then, without any shame, he continued to flatter: "What great prime ministers of history, in front of you, are not even fit to carry your shoes! You are a god reborn, a supreme sage beyond the reach of us mortals!"

At the critical moment of life and death, he threw everything good he could think of at Jiang Jiang Mingyu as if it cost nothing.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Jiang Mingyu remained expressionless, only letting out a cold sneer: "Continue speaking?"

He He Dachuan immediately heard the mockery in his words, quickly shut his mouth, and begged for mercy: "My lord, please calm your anger; this humble one dares not speak again. I beg you to show mercy and spare us father and son this once!"

"I promise that upon returning, I will pay all the outstanding taxes in full; I will never dare to delay again!"

Unexpectedly, Jiang Jiang Mingyu did not buy his story at all, still looking completely calm. Jiang Jiang Mingyu pressed his lips together and spoke unhurriedly: "You have finished speaking; now it is my turn to say a few words."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu, with his hands clasped behind his back, spoke calmly but with weight: "As a subject of the Great Feng Kingdom, paying taxes is your duty, not capital to bargain with me."

He frowned and added: "And your beast of a son not only offended this official but also frightened this pitiful Miss."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved his hand and spoke earnestly: "Before, how he was a rascal, I could not care less. But since I am now stationed here, I will absolutely no longer tolerate you bullying good people."

Finally, he raised a hand and pressed his temples, speaking helplessly: "Enough; enough nonsense has been spoken. Let us first think about how to solve the current trouble." Seeing that Jiang Jiang Mingyu finally seemed willing to let him off, He He Dachuan instantly relaxed; the feeling of being terrified and sitting on pins and needles vanished completely, and he felt his soul, which was about to float away, return to his body.

He also knew the county yamen was now penniless. He He Dachuan, without hesitation, immediately threw caution to the wind and spoke bluntly: "I will fully compensate this Miss; no matter how much money it costs, as long as it can eliminate the resentment of the lord and this Miss!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu pressed his lips into a smile and spoke leisurely: "Since Master He is so generous, then this official will not be polite."

He frowned slightly, pretending to think seriously, and slowly said: "This Miss has suffered great shock and probably cannot work for ten days or half a month. How about this: compensation for mental distress plus lost wages, a fixed price of five hundred taels of silver; what do you think?"

Hearing five hundred taels, He He Dachuan's face instantly changed; he felt a "buzz" in his forehead and immediately became dazed: "This..."

Unexpectedly, Jiang Jiang Mingyu said with a smile: "If you are unwilling, that is no problem. Tu Tu Kesiluo, take this father and son back to the yamen and punish them severely according to the law."

Tu Tu Kesiluo was seen revealing a cold expression, approaching the He father and son. Seeing this, He He Dachuan broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly said: "I will give it! Five hundred taels, I will give it!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu nodded in satisfaction, putting on a humble and polite appearance: "Very good; as for the matter of them offending this official..."

He He Dachuan, besides feeling the pain of the money, had large beads of cold sweat seeping from his forehead: "This... my lord, just name a price!"

The corners of Jiang Jiang Mingyu's mouth curled slightly, feigning difficulty: "This official, as the Imperial Envoy bestowed by the Emperor, is not a person who covets small gains."

He pretended to think hard and finally said: "Forget it, just give five thousand taels; let it be a mere gesture; it absolutely cannot be too much; this official cannot accept such a favor."

The smile He He Dachuan had just barely forced onto his face instantly stiffened; his mouth twitched, and he forced out a ugly smile while trying to stay calm: "My lord is joking; as long as you are happy."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu smiled in satisfaction: "Master He is so considerate; this official is gratified. It is settled then."

Having said this, the smile on his face gradually disappeared, and his tone shifted to become chilling: "Remember, discipline your son well. If such a thing happens again, this official will absolutely not show leniency."

Jiang Jiang Mingyu waved his hand and commanded: "Second Master, go with Master He to get the silver; return quickly. This official will wait for you at the yamen."

He turned to the woman: "Miss, come with me to the yamen and wait."

Finally, he said to He He Dachuan: "Lord He, I shall invite you for tea another day. Farewell!"

Jiang Jiang Mingyu paid no heed to the complex expressions on the He father and son's faces and strode away.

No sooner had the three turned the street corner than Liao Goudan's anxious voice came: "My lord, a great calamity has occurred!"