Chapter 385: Chapter 385: Seize the Opportunity

The government officials watched as the Imperial Envoy Guard and the troops led by Zhou Mu came and went in a hurry, once again looking at each other in dismay. The two bloodied figures on the ground, one their County Magistrate, the other Lord Governor, now lay lifeless in the main hall. Should they help them up or not?

Huangfu Jinxuan was in a good mood today, and since it was just about dinner time, he waved his hand with great bravado: “Everyone has worked hard today. To all the soldiers of my Imperial Envoy’s guard, the garrison, and the people of Wangshan Town, I, the Imperial Envoy, will treat you all! Let’s dine at the restaurants in the county town!”

This grand gesture naturally drew cheers of surprise and gratitude from the people.

The restaurants in the county town instantly filled up.

However, this was the Imperial Envoy treating, and this Imperial Envoy was someone who would casually punish even the Prefectural Governor and County Magistrate, so the restaurant owners didn’t try to take advantage; they simply served whatever they had without overcharging.

Huangfu Jinxuan and the rest, full and drunk, then returned overnight to Wangshan Town.

Though Huangfu Jinxuan’s way of handling things was little more than mischief, it made him feel good, and the people felt good too.

Yet Huangfu Jinxuan understood that if word of this reached the Capital City, the consequences could be significant. His reputation as a rogue, a scoundrel among scoundrels, wasn’t a good one, yet it could work to his advantage this time.

Though tired and weary, he was excited, and once settled, he immediately wrote a letter to his father.

Not only did he write to his father, but he also quickly sent a memorial. As for the testimony stamped by Yu Shikui and Kong Tixin, he sent that along as well.

Even if he was being mischievous, he couldn’t let others use this opportunity to implicate his father and elder brother!

Yu Shikui and Kong Tixin were eventually helped up by the government officials and given clothes to cover themselves. In the middle of the night, they awoke from pain, and Yu Shikui, in a rage, spat out a mouthful of blood, immediately preparing writing materials to draft a memorial impeaching Huangfu Jinxuan.

He wouldn’t rest until he vented his anger!

He cursed and swore as he wrote.

Kong Tixin, enduring the pain, tried to please and earn merit, only to be kicked away by Yu Shikui.

“Useless piece of work, you couldn’t even handle your affairs properly. If it weren’t for your incompetence, would I be in this predicament? Don’t think that just because you took a beating and lost face with me that this matter will simply blow over. I will seek revenge, harsh revenge, on everyone! Including you, Kong Tixin!”

Kong Tixin fell to the side, landing hard on his backside. The pain shot through him, bringing tears to his eyes. He shrank into the corner, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. This time, Lord Yu was truly furious.

He didn’t dare mention anything about last night’s testimony.

He just hoped Lord Yu wouldn’t find out, and that since the Lord Imperial Envoy had already beaten them, he wouldn’t bring up the testimony again, right? After all, they didn’t succeed, did they?

Wangshan Town.

In one of the rooms, County Magistrate Tian Zhenlin and the three stewards were present.

Tian Zhenlin’s gaze swept over the three stewards and said, “You all saw today’s situation. I know you’ve always been listening to Lord Kong and helped him with many things, covering everything up. That’s called aiding the tiger’s deeds! But from now on, don’t hold on to any illusions. Compile everything you know and submit it to me. I will present it to the Lord Imperial Envoy and plead for you. After all, you were coerced, and by confessing voluntarily, you can avoid punishment!”

Xue Wei’s eyes darted around cautiously: “I’ve heard from the townspeople returning that although Lord Kong was flogged with ten strikes, the Lord Imperial Envoy did not pursue the matter further. Now Lord Kong has returned to the county government to take charge of the situation…”

Tian Zhenlin sneered, “Take charge of the situation? Are you deaf or blind? Being sent back to the county under such conditions, and flogged with ten strikes, won’t this news spread? Once it spreads, what public reputation will remain? Won’t the authorities send inspections? Can you withstand the results of an inspection?”

The Criminal Master spoke weakly, “Even if we compile it, I only have the case files!”

Tian Zhenlin replied, “Then compile everything you have at hand. What doesn’t concern you, you don’t need to worry about!”

The School Supervisor secretly wiped his sweat. He was responsible for the county’s educational affairs. Although the academic exams were once every three years, there were still some shady dealings in between. Kong Tixin had been the Yanglu County Magistrate for five years, during which there were two sessions of exams.

He clearly knew what had transpired, but he had merely followed Kong Tixin’s orders.

The Criminal Master quietly reflected on the domestic cases Kong Tixin had handled over the past five years, pondering which ones had unresolved ambiguities, and what had been removed or added under Kong Tixin’s instructions… If he compiled these and submitted them…

He could hardly imagine.

But now it seemed the County Magistrate was useless, and Tian Zhenlin, the County Magistrate, was their superior. He could comply in appearance while opposing in heart. But for an already useless Kong Tixin, was it worth it?

The most terrified was Xue Wei, who handled the financial affairs for Kong Tixin. He had seen the most filth and dirt, and many matters were personally handled by him.

But he wasn’t foolish. Over the years, he had secretly kept an account book. If he handed over that account book…

His eyes flickered as he said, “Mr. Tian, will you really plead for us with the Lord Imperial Envoy? Can we really be pardoned?”

Tian Zhenlin replied, “Of course!”

Over the years in Yanglu County, he had always been overshadowed by Kong Tixin. He, too, had the opportunity of a Scholar, albeit at the bottom of the Third Class, but it still put him on the list, didn’t it? He could have been posted as a County Magistrate, yet in the Capital City, he had no connections and ended up only as a County Magistrate. The County Magistrate, an assistant to the County Magistrate, was in charge of documents, warehouses, etc.

However, Kong Tixin had already seized control of the entire Yanglu County. Matters of documentation were given to the School Supervisor and Criminal Master, warehouse affairs to the Master of Finance. He, the externally posted County Magistrate, was more of an idle person who couldn’t intervene.

Tian Zhenlin knew he had no power, no influence, no foundation, and if he wanted to make achievements, he had to bide his time.

He waited for two years.

During these two years, he observed many of Kong Tixin’s actions. On the surface, he seemed to get along with Kong Tixin peacefully, even harmoniously, but in reality, he never stopped wanting to collect evidence against him. This was both for the people of Yanglu County and for himself.

However, Kong Tixin was very cunning and guarded against him, making it genuinely challenging to gather evidence!

When he came to the estate this time, it seemed he was here to help, but he actually wanted to see if he could catch Kong Tixin’s fox tail.

He never expected the Imperial Envoy to come and corner Yu Shikui and Kong Tixin in bed. Tian Zhenlin immediately realized his opportunity had come.

Xue Wei’s eyes flickered, pondering how he could avoid offending Tian Zhenlin while distancing himself.

Lord Kong had lost face, the entire Yanglu County would mock him, but wasn’t he still the County Magistrate? If the Lord Imperial Envoy had had his fun and then dismissed him like passing gas, listening to Tian Zhenlin now would leave no retreat, would it?

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