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The magistrate wanted to shrink his entire body to hide under the table. The abrupt voice made him jump up with surprise.

Reflexively jumping up, he banged his head on the table on his way up.

“Aiyo~” The pain made him call out. When he finally climbed upright, his forehead was already sporting a big bump.

XunMi’s lips twitched upwards. His image had been ruined so fast. Was the ‘deathly pale face pale body’ look the trend these days? The man on the floor was sporting it, Guan Shengqing on the side was sporting it. Even this magistrate had it.

“Prince, this…This…” The magistrate trembled with fear as he spoke. In his heart, he was complaining. What was this? Didn’t they say she was just a nobody? How did this tyrant of capital city get involved?

Yes, yesterday there was an imperial edict bestowing XunMi the title of princess. But that seemed to be just a meaningless action so no one paid too much attention to it. Thus, the magistrate was bribed with just a thousand taels of gold.

Zongzheng Mufeng turned a cold glare in his direction, “This what? It’s already so clear, could it be that you’re deaf? Or maybe blind? Can’t you see that my wangfei has already lowered herself to speak directly to you?” This greasy fat man was really disgusting to look at, he was worried that he would dirty Belle’s eyes.

If XunMi or the magistrate knew what this man was thinking, they might roll their eyes and spit blood. They were trying to proceed with serious matters, why was he thinking of such random things?

“Yes, yes. Wangfei, may I ask…Is there anything you need me to do for you?” He shakily wiped sweat from his forehead while attempting to kiss up to her. He brilliantly demonstrated the talent of a sudden change in attitude, as if it wasn’t him who was trying to arrest her just a while ago.

“It’s nothing much. Since this man has finished talking, I wanted to ask Magistrate to bring back justice to my reputation.” She indifferently waved her hands with a soft smile on her face.

“Wangfei, don’t worry. This magistrate will definitely not let these little people hoping to scheme against you get away easily.” As long as disaster didn’t fall on him, anything she wanted was okay. After all he still wanted to live for a few more years.

Li Zhu raised his head in shock, “Magistrate, this lowly one is being wrongly accused! I beg of Magistrate to investigate carefully, please be fair.”

Guan Shengqing’s expression was more unsightly by the second. This situation was getting out of control.

“You’ve been accused wrongfully? That’s bull. You had said that you’ve seen the Princess’ appearance. Yet you don’t recognize the wangfei standing in front of you? You still dare to say it was the Princess that stole your jade pendant?! How preposterous! Speak, who incited you to do all of this?” The magistrate fiercely slammed the table, working hard to seem as if he was furious. His eyes rounded with anger, his shaking headwear, and waving clothing all added to his performance.

Li Zhu was dumbfounded, turning in shock to look at the beautiful woman smiling fully near the front of the room, his head feeling muddled.

“Deceiving the magistrate, framing the Princess, and agitating the Prince! Guards, give him a punishment of 30 strikes and then send him to prison!” The magistrate showed no mercy. He had no mood to care about that thousand taels of gold anymore. He only wanted to quickly pacify and send away the tyrant of capital city, that was the matter of highest importance. As long as he doesn’t get sucked into this mess, then there would be no regrets.

“No, magistrate. Please spare me, this lowly one knows his wrongdoings! Please, magistrate. Forgive me!” Li Zhu was frightened. 30 strikes? That would kill him! Seeing that begging the magistrate had no effect, he crawled towards Guan Shengqing’s feet.

“Sir Guan, please save me. I only did it because of- Ah!” Before finishing his sentence, he was kicked away. Being hit in the most vulnerable part of his body made Li Zhu feel as if he was hovering on the border of life and death.

XunMi and Co. silently shifted their gaze away in sympathy. This man’s luck really wasn’t good. He had been so coincidentally been kicked in the… As expected, bad people will all face their retribution.

Guan Shengqing’s face twisted and twisted before quickly turning his head to cover up his loss of self control. “Prince, since everything has been cleared, could you spare this man oncec for my sake? I believe he was just acting in a moment’s bad decision.” Li Zhu couldn’t be kept but he needed to first gain his trust. If he let the truth slip, then that would only make matters worse.

Zongzheng Mufeng waved his fan, “And who are you? Why should I do anything for your sake? Where do you get your confidence from? Even your father respectfully lowers his head and bows in my presence.” Zongzheng Mufeng didn’t care for the so-called number one talented scholar. To him, he was just a hypocrite. No matter how good at hiding he was, Zongzheng Mufeng could still see the arrogance and hubris in his eyes. Hehe…this kind of trash actually believed he was some respectable person?

Guan Shengqing veins popped out as he stubbornly squeezed out a smile. “Prince, you are a superior. My father and I are only servants to Emperor. Servants should of course bow their heads in front of superiors. But Prince must also be aware that even a rabbit will bite a person when threatened. To avoid suffering a rebellion of the oppressed one day, why not show benevolence to all?”

Everyone was shocked frozen by his words. They stared at him as if he were an idiot. Was his brains fried? He dared to say such disrespectful things? What did he mean “bite a person”, “rebellion”? What was he insinuating, that he was going to rebel?

The magistrate was about to pee his pants. All he wanted was to a thousand taels of gold. How did it all come to this…

Good god, he swears that he’ll never do this kind of thing out of greed ever again. So please don’t let this mess implicate him too.

Zongzheng Mufeng laughed away his anger, his folded fan striking the tabletop. Once, twice, with rhythm. It sounded like the toll of the bell of death, approaching closer with every chime. “This Prince didn’t know that the Ministry of Rites’ Minister Guan has a son with ambition to rebel against the state. Then would the Minister also feel the same? My Emperor brother’s eyesight still is so bad. An Yi, go inform my Emperor brother. Remember, tell him every word.” An Yi accepted the order and left.

“Even though Magistrate acted muddleheaded today and did not investigate carefully before so haphazardly opening court, but your merits and demerits ultimately balance out. I will report your deeds back to my my emperor brother.” Is it because it’s been a while since he’s gone to morning court, these people are now thinking he could be easily bullied? Even to they point that they dare scheme against his person? It was time he soothe the bubbling waters and purge out those that need to be purged.

In contrast to the magistrate’s rejoice, Guan Shengqing’s face was filled with anger. That wasn’t what he had meant at all. How could this An wang twist his words?

“An wang, this humble one hopes to respect you as An wang. Therefore, please refrain from bullying intolerably.”

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