[Fantasy] A Strange Encounter with an Immortal (Complete) - 7-9

Chapter Nine: Zhu

Chuanzong, the fourth servant of the Zhu family, was thunderstruck after hearing Lü Bobing's words. He never imagined such darkness existed in the world. He saw a bustling banquet, everyone eating and laughing heartily, a scene of extravagance completely at odds with his own state of mind.

Zhu Chuanzong observed coldly, finding it uninteresting. He feigned going to the restroom, and as he left the hall, he saw a starry sky, a gentle breeze, and the fragrance of flowers all around—a beautiful scene. Yet, the common people lived in abject misery. In Guanshui Township, poverty was so severe that the men couldn't find wives, and adultery and theft were rampant. Those laborers who went out to work had toiled for years, only to return home penniless. The poor truly had no way to survive!

Zhu Chuanzong sighed, unable to shake off his despair. He wandered aimlessly until he regained his senses and found himself at Guanyun Courtyard.

Several maids had already seen him and quickly ushered him into the house. When Hua Caiyun heard he had arrived, she embraced him at the door and laughed, "You just got back. Weren't you having a welcome feast in the hall? Why did you come here so quickly?"

Zhu Chuanzong forced back his thoughts and laughed, "Sister-in-law, you are absolutely stunning. I missed you terribly, so I came without thinking."

Hua Caiyun laughed, "Nonsense, you clearly wanted to come, how can you say it came without thinking!"

Zhu Chuanzong wasn't lying. Seeing Hua Caiyun's ample hips and breasts, which made her even more alluring and captivating, he was mesmerized.

Seeing his infatuated expression, Hua Caiyun said, "You seemed much more composed when you came back today, but how come you've already given yourself away so quickly!"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "It's all because of your charm, sister-in-law. No matter how beautiful a woman I meet outside, I can remain unmoved, but the moment I see you, I'm completely captivated and can only fall at your feet."

Hua Caiyun tapped his forehead with her delicate hand and smiled, "I suppose you weren't lying. I heard from Nuanyun and Xiaoyu that they praised you for your dedication to solving cases, getting so many that the people call you Zhu Qingtian (a paragon of justice)! And that's not all; you were so obedient, you even let that beautiful girl surnamed Yue go. But I don't understand, weren't you helping her with her cases because you were attracted to her? Why didn't you make a move? Nuanyun is gentle and will keep it a secret for you. But Xiaoyu is straightforward; she says whatever comes to mind. They say..." "The law is consistent, it can't be wrong."

Zhu Chuanzong pretended to be serious and said, "How could I, a dignified and upright man, be bewitched by a woman's beauty!"

Hua Caiyun said, "You're really something! Well then, I admire you. But it's getting late, please come tomorrow. Although I am your sister-in-law, and an elder sister-in-law is like a mother, there is still a difference between men and women. You should go out now, and we can talk about it tomorrow!"

Seeing Hua Caiyun's coquettish expression, Zhu Chuanzong knew she was deliberately teasing him, so he said, "I've thought about it. Although one shouldn't be bewitched by a woman's beauty, how can you be considered a woman's beauty? If I were a fish, you would be the water, and I would die of thirst without you; if I were a cat, you would be the fish, and I would starve to death without you."

After saying that, he pounced on her, tore open Hua Caiyun's clothes, revealing a pair of large breasts, and vigorously rubbed them while his mouth reached out to bite and nibble.

The suddenness of the event startled Hua Caiyun, who then giggled and exclaimed, "Are you crazy?!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "My dear sister-in-law, I've missed you so much."

Hua Caiyun, aroused by his actions, moaned and stroked Zhu Chuanzong's head, saying, "Yes, I missed you too."

Zhu Chuanzong touched Hua Caiyun's breasts and said, "Sister-in-law, yours seems to have grown bigger again!"

Hua Caiyun retorted, "It's all your fault! You're so naughty, it's so embarrassing."

Zhu Chuanzong chuckled mischievously, "Really? Then I'll get you pregnant too, let's see what you do then!"

Hua Caiyun's beautiful eyes sparkled, her face flushed, but she refused to back down, challenging him, "Do you have the ability?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "You dare underestimate me!"

He picked Hua Caiyun up and carried her to the bed.

Having been separated for so long, both were deeply moved, their affection overflowing, needing no further explanation.

The next day, Zhu Chuanzong reported to the Censorate and presented his documents. His superiors praised him, saying he had worked hard and made great contributions. A few days later, an official document from Jianghuai Province arrived, detailing Yue Yiming's wrongful conviction and praising the imperial envoy Zhu Chuanzong's achievements. It then described the other cases in detail, even exaggerating them, praising Zhu Chuanzong greatly, saying he was a young prodigy who had solved four seemingly intractable cases in such a short time. Finally, the case of Zhou Chongsheng was presented, stating that he had embezzled 200,000 taels of silver. Other offenses, such as bullying men and women, indulging relatives, and seizing land, were only briefly mentioned. Even so, when the Censorate presented this to the Emperor, Emperor Mingzong was furious and issued an imperial edict to execute Zhou Chongsheng immediately.

The night before Zhu Chuanzong left, Zheng Wenrong, the Provincial Governor of Jianghuai Province, arrived and discussed the matter with Wu Zheng, the Prefect of Lutong Prefecture, all night, preparing to have a proper "discussion" with Zhu Chuanzong the next day. However, he unexpectedly left in the morning. Although he didn't see Zhu Chuanzong, he felt relieved and tried his best to downplay the case. However, Zhu Chuanzong had handled the case to this extent, and there was no way to cover up for Zhou Chongsheng. Although only one-tenth of the case had been reported, the Emperor was still furious and could not save Zhou Chongsheng's life.

Wu Zheng was not seriously guilty for sending Yue Yiming's wrongful case back for retrial, but because his subordinates were so incompetent and greedy, he was placed on probation and fined one year's salary. Provincial Governor Zheng Wenrong was fined three months' salary for having such an inexplicable wrongful case under his jurisdiction.

Emperor Mingzong was pleased with Zhu Chuanzong's great achievement. After reviewing the case details, he addressed his ministers, saying, "Such a capable official deserves a promotion beyond the usual ranks."

Zhu Chuanzong was promoted three ranks and appointed Right Vice Censor-in-Chief (a fourth-rank official). Zhu Youji immediately knelt down to decline, saying, "This Zhu Chuanzong is my son. He is so young, yet he has been promoted so quickly, which may cause public outcry. Moreover, it is not good for him, as it may foster arrogance. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider."

Left Chancellor Li Yiheng slowly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, although Zhu Chuanzong is exceptionally skilled in handling cases, he is too young. It is not too late to promote him gradually after he has achieved other merits." Emperor Mingzong

angrily replied, "Whoever has the talent to eradicate corruption, I will promote!" "His official position. Now that the world has enjoyed peace for so long, officials have become increasingly lazy and corrupt, and the people are suffering. Do you think I don't know this? I have tried to rectify the situation, but the results have been poor. Zhu Chuanzong, though young, solved the case of Yue Yiming's wrongful murder of his wife as soon as he took office. Such an absurd case, and you actually let it happen! For years, you have been helpless against corruption, which shows your utter incompetence. Magistrate Zhou Chongsheng was a scourge to the region; if it weren't for Zhu Chuanzong, could such a parasite have been caught? Now that someone has made a great contribution, instead of reflecting on your own incompetence, you try to stop my reward. What are your intentions?"

Seeing the emperor's anger, the ministers hurriedly knelt down, saying they dared not, and praising the emperor's wisdom.

Thus, Zhu Youji, at the young age of sixteen, was appointed a high-ranking official of the fourth rank. Many people never even reach the fourth rank in their entire lives. Moreover, Zhu Chuanzong's investigation into Yue Yiming's murder of his wife shocked the entire Jianghuai Province. Even the Provincial Governor was punished, and the officialdom began to take notice of this newcomer.

Zhu Chuanzong was riding high, his reputation soaring. High-ranking officials, similar to Zhu Youji, who had previously paid little attention to a minor official like Zhu Chuanzong, now inquired about him. Seeing his youthful talent and good family background, some even wanted to marry their daughters to him, establishing a marriage alliance with the Zhu family. However, upon learning of the rumors that he was a eunuch, they were all greatly disappointed.

Nevertheless, with Zhu Chuanzong's promotion, the Zhu family inevitably held another grand banquet, with officials arriving in droves to offer their congratulations.

Zhu Chuanzong was weary of these social obligations, but fortunately, his father, Zhu Youji, was adept at them, saving Zhu Chuanzong a lot of trouble. However, some social engagements were unavoidable, and Zhu Chuanzong had to attend even if he disliked them.

One day, Zhu Chuanzong secretly slipped out of the banquet again. His maidservants, thinking he was inside drinking, didn't pay him any attention. Zhu Chuanzong drank too much and felt hot all over, so he took off his clothes and went to a shady spot to cool off.

While Zhu Chuanzong was still drowsy, he heard three people approaching from afar, discussing as they walked. One of them said, "My god, this house is so luxurious! If we had just one of those gold and jade ornaments, we wouldn't have to work for the rest of our lives. We could eat and drink like royalty forever!"

Another said, "Zhang Laowu, look at your pathetic self. What's that compared to something rare and precious? Is it worth more than people? Didn't you see all those girls here? They're all so beautiful. If they were sold in a brothel, how much would they cost per night?"

The third person scoffed, "Qian Laoliu, what you're saying isn't..." "What's wrong? You guys are really short-sighted! How can those young ladies compare to prostitutes? They all belong to young masters. I told you long ago, rich men have at least dozens of wives, and even their maids would be considered young ladies in other families. How about it, have I proven my words today?"

Zhang Laowu said, "Lao Si is absolutely right."

Qian Laoliu said, "Right what? If Zhao Laosi were right, would we have gone to rob people on the road? We almost got locked up and never saw the light of day again!"

Zhao Laosi angrily said, "You have no conscience! If it weren't for my brilliant idea, would we have met Young Master Zhu? Now..." "Being a servant in the Zhu family means earning two taels of silver a month. Where else can you find such a good deal? It's all thanks to my brilliant calculations! You two are incredibly lucky to know me! Instead of being grateful, you're still whining here, it's infuriating!"

Old Qian, looking disheveled from the scolding, scratched his head and chuckled, saying, "Honestly, I still can't believe it's true. We're illiterate, yet we can earn two taels of silver a month. Just how rich must our young master's family be? There are thousands of people in this mansion, my goodness! I can't even imagine it."

Old Zhao sneered. "Don't lump me in with you. I can read. What do you two country bumpkins know?"

Zhang Laowu said, "Yes, yes. Fourth Brother is much more knowledgeable than us. We're all in the outer quarters. Tell me, with all our wealth, what does the young master eat every day?"

Zhao Laosi was clever, but he had never seen anything like it and didn't know. Not wanting to lose face by saying he didn't know, he thought for a moment and said, "You're really stupid. Of course, he eats meat every day. Is there anything better than meat in the world? When I'm rich, I'll eat meat every day too."

At this moment, the three approached the place where Zhu Chuanzong was cooling off.

Zhu Chuanzong found their words amusing and coughed. The three were startled, but when they saw that it was Zhu Chuanzong in the shadows, they immediately became happy, surrounded him, and bowed in greeting.

It turned out that Zhu Chuanzong saw that the three were just country folk from a remote village and had no great evil, so he took pity on them and made them servants of the Zhu family. Seeing the three men happily come to greet him, he asked, "Are you settling in well with us? Have you suffered any injustices?"

The three men were moved to tears. Zhang Laowu said, "We country folk can endure any hardship. Young Master, you still care about us so much. I... I'll be your son from now on, and I'll take care of you in your old age."

In their village, taking care of one's parents was the most important and greatest way to repay a debt of gratitude.

Zhu Chuanzong laughed. Zhao Laosi, being more astute, retorted, "Bah! What nonsense are you spouting? Does Young Master need you to take care of him in his old age? Young Master, don't be angry. We country folk don't know how to talk. He means we're willing to serve you like cattle and horses."

Zhang Laowu quickly added, "Yes, yes. That's what he means."

While Zhu Chuanzong was talking to them, Xiao Yu, noticing the young master wasn't at the banquet, brought Siji to look for him. After searching everywhere, they found them.

Seeing Xiao Yu looking for him, Zhu Chuanzong said goodbye to the three men and left with them.

Xiao Yu complained, "Young Master, really! Bringing that fat, simple-minded guy home is one thing, but why bring these three rustic country bumpkins here? And talking to them? Be careful

you don't pick up their stench!" Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "I know, I won't do it again. I took them in because I felt sorry for them. You don't know how hard their lives are!"

Meanwhile, Zhao Laosi and the other two watched Zhu Chuanzong leave, surrounded by five beautiful girls, and even after a long time, they were still staring blankly.

Zhang Laowu sighed, "My goodness, the young master is truly a young master! So many beautiful women, all by himself, and he manages to handle them all. He's no wonder he's called a young master, and we're just servants! The young master is amazing; he keeps them all so obedient. If it were me, I'd be driven crazy by all the crying and fussing!"

Qian Laoliu said, "Do you think they're all like the tigresses in your house?"

Zhang Laowu replied, "I think they're even fiercer than the tigresses in my house. Do you dare say a word to them? If they pout and glare, we're doomed."

Qian Laoliu's mouth dropped open; he realized Zhang Laowu was right.

Zhao Laosi said, "That's true. These women are strange; in front of the young master, they're as docile as cats, but in front of us, they're like tigers. The young master is truly capable! Indeed, the capable are capable of anything!"

The three sighed, filled with envy and admiration.

Zhu Chuanzong, having been promoted, wouldn't be reporting for duty for a few days, so he stayed home for a while. He and his sister and sister-in-law had a wonderful time catching up on their separation. Zhu

Shuiyue, on the other hand, missed Zhu Chuanzong constantly during their time apart. Now that he was back, the two were very affectionate and intimate.

Although Zhu Shuiyue was a well-bred young lady and very proper, knowing that Zhu Chuanzong was a celestial being and being deeply in love, she couldn't get enough of

spending time with him. Zhu Chuanzong gave her some novel items he had bought outside, and Zhu Shuiyue was overjoyed. Actually, she wasn't a sheltered young lady who couldn't step outside her door; she had seen many new and interesting things outside. However, whatever her lover gave her was always good, but what Zhu Shuiyue liked most was listening to Zhu Chuanzong talk about the cases he was handling. The Zhu family was quite small. Zhu Chuanzong was their only son, and he had previously been mentally challenged, so Zhu Shuiyue, like everyone else in the Zhu family, only hoped he could carry on the family line. However, Zhu Shuiyue never expected Zhu Chuanzong to be such a remarkable individual, not only intelligent and quick-witted but also decisive and efficient, quickly gaining renown in officialdom. Seeing her lover's abilities, and still deeply in love, Zhu Shuiyue was overjoyed. Whenever she had time, she would ask Zhu Chuanzong to tell her about his case-solving methods, how the common people regarded him as their savior, and how grateful they were to him.

Gradually, as he talked more, Zhu Chuanzong became somewhat annoyed. Seeing his displeasure, Zhu Shuiyue went to inquire with Nuanyun and Xiaoyu, and after a while, the two of them had nothing more to say.

Xiao Yu said, "Miss, our new attendant, that big fat guy, he's worked on cases with the young master before, he knows more than we do! Why don't we go ask him? That fat guy is just as fat as the young master used to be, it's hilarious!"

Zhu Shuiyue was intrigued and said, "Really? Is that true?"

Nuanyun also laughed, "Yes, Miss, you don't often go out of the inner courtyard, so you don't know. His name is Wang Daniu, although he's a bit fat, he's very agile, but he's a country bumpkin and often makes a fool of himself."

Zhu Shuiyue found their conversation amusing, and having nothing else to do, she went with them to find Wang Daniu.

Ever since Wang Daniu followed Zhu Chuanzong to the Zhu family and became Zhu Chuanzong's attendant, he had nothing to do because Zhu Chuanzong had been staying at home and loitering in the inner courtyard, and Wang Daniu couldn't get in. The servants in the Zhu household were all jealous of him, seeing that he was Zhu Chuanzong's follower and enjoyed his favor. They also saw him as an outsider, ignorant of the ways of the world, and overweight, and constantly teased him.

Wang Daniu, though honest and straightforward, wasn't stupid. Seeing the teasing, he ignored them. One day, having nothing to do, and finding the Zhu mansion large and beautiful, he wandered around aimlessly.

Wang Daniu wandered around for half a day when he suddenly encountered Zhao Laosi and his two companions leading a donkey. The donkey, for some reason, became angry and refused to move.

Zhang Laowu was furious and began whipping it hard.

Wang Daniu stepped forward and said, "This donkey is pitiful. Why are you hitting it?"

Zhang Laowu, startled by the sight of a well-dressed man approaching him—tall, imposing, and exuding wealth—was immediately frightened and knelt before the donkey, saying, "Lord Donkey! I was blind to your greatness! I never imagined you had such a wealthy relative! I will never dare to hit you again!"

Zhao Laosi and Qian Laoliu, recognizing the man and seeing Zhang Laowu's fear and lack of recognition, burst into laughter.

Wang Daniu was bewildered and said, "What are you talking about, kid? I don't know this donkey. This is the first time we've met. How could we be relatives?"

Zhang Laowu then looked up and recognized Wang Daniu. They had come to Beijing together before, and Zhang Laowu had felt sorry for the three of them back then. They had chatted quite congenially. Zhang Laowu wiped his sweat and chuckled, "Oh, it's Brother Wang! You're dressed so well, I didn't recognize you."

Wang Daniu said, "I haven't changed at all, how could I not recognize you! What are you three doing?"

The three replied, "We're borrowing the donkey to grind tofu."

Wang Daniu asked what kind of work they did at the Zhu family's house, and the three answered truthfully. They worked in the woodshed, often carrying and chopping firewood. However, because they were new and knew nothing, they were quite rustic, so the servants made them do all sorts of work.

As long as they could earn money, they were willing to do anything. The work outside was more tiring and didn't pay as much, so they were content and did whatever they were told.

That's fine. The three of them were unfamiliar with the place and people, and it was already a great stroke of luck that they were able to enter the Zhu family. So they treated everyone with utmost respect, as if they were masters, for fear of offending anyone and being kicked out and losing their jobs.

Seeing the three men looking so pathetic and covered in dust, Wang Daniu, remembering how he too had been mocked, felt a pang of sympathy and said, "You three are even doing this kind of work, it's really pitiful!"

Qian Laoliu, who had been laughing the whole time, quickly replied, "Not pitiful at all! We've earned so much money, doing some work isn't tiring at all. We country folk wouldn't feel comfortable just sitting around!"

Zhao Laosi, being the clever one, asked, "Brother Wang, where do you work? What

kind of work do you do?" Wang Daniu, who couldn't muster any arrogance in front of others, was eager to boast to these three, saying, "I'm the young master's personal attendant, how about that, impressive, right? Want to work for me?"

Zhao Laosi quickly asked, "Do you earn a lot?"

Wang Daniu asked, "How much silver do you earn a month?"

Qian Laoliu excitedly interjected, "Two taels! We've never seen so much money in our lives!"

Wang Daniu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I earn four taels of silver! Hehe."

The three men were very envious.

As the group was chatting and laughing, a servant boy suddenly ran over, shouting, "Brother Wang, something bad has happened! Miss is looking for you! Why aren't you staying put? What are you doing running around the yard like that?"

Wang Daniu laughed, "Look, even Miss wants me to run errands. I'll go now, we'll talk later!"

and followed the servant boy.

Chapter Ten: The Beautiful Bandit

Wang Daniu left amidst the envious gazes of the three men, but as soon as he was out of their sight, his heart began to pound. He said, "Young man, I don't even know Miss. Why does she want to see me? Did I do something wrong?"

The servant boy replied, "How would I know! Miss wanting to see you is a blessing you've accumulated over many lifetimes. Even if she wants to beat or scold you, if it were me, I'd be willing!"

Hearing this, Wang Daniu became even more frightened. Originally, he was fearless, but after arriving in the capital, he had seen many things he had never seen before. The Zhu family was a wealthy household with many rules, so he became reserved.

Wang Daniu nervously went to see Zhu Shuiyue. From afar, he heard laughter and saw several beautiful girls pointing and whispering about him.

Wang Daniu recognized Nuanyun and Xiaoyu, whom he usually treated like young ladies. But seeing them standing beside such a stunningly beautiful girl, he felt flustered. The group of beauties was dazzling, and he didn't dare look directly at them, his face flushing red.

Then, a clear, sweet voice laughed, "Wang Daniu, you're so fat! Do you know how much trouble my brother went through to get you to come to our house? Does seeing you remind him of his silly self?"

After these words, the group of girls burst into laughter.

Wang Daniu was dazed and confused, his mind foggy. He said, "I don't know, I don't know anything."

Zhu Shuiyue laughed, "Doesn't he look like Bao'er when he was clueless?"

The women laughed, "He really does look more and more like him. No wonder the young master brought this little rascal back this time."

Seeing Wang Daniu's confused look, Zhu Shuiyue said, "Your young master used to be very fat, didn't you know? He was as fat as you back then!"

Wang Daniu then understood, a flash of inspiration striking him. He said, "Yes, I remember now, I've seen him when he was fat."

Zhu Shuiyue asked in surprise, "You've seen him?"

Wang Daniu then recounted the first time he met Zhu Chuanzong, how he mistakenly beat him up, and how Zhu Chuanzong suddenly became fat and unafraid of being beaten.

Zhu Shuiyue was very interested and asked for details. Finally, she asked, "Do you think that Miss Yue is pretty?"

Wang Daniu said, "She's pretty! But she's too thin."

The women burst into laughter.

After teasing Wang Daniu, Zhu Shuiyue happily went to talk to Zhu Chuanzong, saying, "Your magic is amazing! You can transform; I wonder how many people you could defeat?"

Zhu Chuanzong was puzzled, but after understanding, he thought, "Being able to become fat is a skill, but I wonder if there are any other benefits."

He was quite frank with his sweetheart, boasting for a while, which made Zhu Shuiyue very happy.

A few days later, after Zhu Chuanzong took office as Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, he began to handle official business. Remembering what Lü Bobing had told him about the shady dealings in those projects, he began to look for similar cases involving the Ministry of Works. He saw many letters of accusation coming from all over the country, but these cases were all suppressed.

Zhu Chuanzong asked his subordinates why these cases were being ignored. Those men said, "These cases have no evidence; they're mostly just baseless rumors. Even if we investigate, we won't find anything. Why bother with them?"

Seeing their official language, Zhu Chuanzong privately questioned them. They replied, "Sir, aren't the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Works… all these departments belong to our Great Liang Dynasty? They're like family; how can we not help our own? Do you really think we can just listen to the common people? Do you think we can investigate just because they say so? Besides, although our Censorate has the responsibility to supervise the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Personnel, and the Ministry of Works, our rank is lower than theirs. How can we manage them?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "As long as we find evidence and report it to the Emperor, someone will naturally take care of it!"

Because Zhu Chuanzong was a new official, the men couldn't figure out his intentions, so they pretended not to understand and dared not answer him further.

Seeing that they were all cunning and shrewd, never speaking the truth, Zhu Chuanzong, in a fit of pique, stopped questioning them. He simply obtained all the cases involving the Ministry of Works and some whistleblower information, and went to examine them personally.

The officials and clerks who brought him the documents thought to themselves, "This Lord Zhu is really good at being an official! He took all the cases involving his father's department as soon as he arrived. It seems he's preparing for the worst! No wonder he can become a high-ranking official, he's really cunning! Originally, with his father's status, a high-ranking official of the first rank, the Minister of Works, who would dare to investigate? But he's guarded against it, leaving no room for error!"

They were all thinking like petty people, but they had no idea what Zhu Chuanzong was thinking!

Zhu Chuanzong read through many files and letters of accusation, and found that there were so many major cases, it was truly shocking.

The more Zhu Chuanzong read, the more annoyed he became. One day, he found a case and became so engrossed in it that he was still reading into the night. When he finally came to his senses, he realized it was already very late.

Zhu Chuanzong simply didn't go home and continued reading by lamplight. He had never read so many bizarre, real, and tragic stories before, and he was filled with sighs, thinking, "It seems the world is peaceful and prosperous, but inside it is rotten and corrupt. It's truly disappointing!"

Thinking of the many bad people in the world, Zhu Chuanzong was filled with anger. He went to the mirror, looked at himself, and said to himself, "I must save those suffering people."

He was filled with chivalrous spirit and wished he could personally kill those corrupt officials. In his anger, he unconsciously turned into a very fat man.

Looking at his enormous and imposing figure in the mirror, Zhu Chuanzong shook his fat, thinking, "I've become fat, so I seem to be very good at fighting. The Heavenly Lord has treated me well, leaving me this benefit. But are there any other benefits? I don't know yet; I'll have to test them out later."

Just then, he suddenly heard shouts outside, and lights appeared in the distance, as if guards were capturing thieves.

Zhu Chuanzong looked out the window and was puzzled. He thought, "The Censorate's office is heavily guarded with high walls and deep courtyards. There's no jewels there, yet thieves dare to come? Truly, the world is full of wonders!"

Just then, a dark figure rushed towards him, carrying a long sword. Zhu Chuanzong was startled and hurriedly tried to close the window, but it was too late. The window was closed, but before the door could be bolted, it was kicked open.

Zhu Chuanzong was about to close the door when a masked man in black suddenly appeared. Startled, he took a step back and said, "Who are you? How dare you break into the yamen?"

The man sneered, closed the door, and then thrust his sword at Zhu Chuanzong.

Zhu Chuanzong had never seen anything like this before. His mind went blank, and he was momentarily stunned. But his body reacted quickly. He ducked, the sword slicing past his clothes, and then threw a punch. The man, who thought he had already hit Zhu Chuanzong, was shocked by his speed. The punch landed squarely on his head, and he immediately lost consciousness.

The incident happened so suddenly that Zhu Chuanzong hadn't even figured out what was going on before it was over.

He stared blankly at the man in black lying before him for a moment, only to be jolted awake by the shouts outside.

Seeing the man's face was covered, Zhu Chuanzong's curiosity was piqued. "Let's see what the thief looks like," he thought. "I'll just hand him over to the guards later."

He crouched down and pulled off the black cloth, but was immediately stunned.

A stunningly beautiful face appeared before Zhu Chuanzong. The man in black was actually a breathtakingly beautiful young woman, pure and beautiful, like a lotus emerging from water, with an incomparably elegant demeanor. Although her eyes were closed, her cherry lips and peach-blossom face were serene and beautiful, breathtakingly so. Zhu Chuanzong was so shocked that he sat down on the ground.

Zhu Chuanzong wasn't unfamiliar with beautiful women; Zhu Shuiyue, from a wealthy family, was also incredibly beautiful, pure, and lovely. But in the dead of night, a ferocious madman suddenly revealed a face of celestial beauty—the contrast was so stark that anyone would be astonished.

Zhu Chuanzong absolutely refused to believe that the pretty woman before him was the thief who had just tried to kill him. Just then, he heard a commotion outside, and someone called out, "Lord Zhu, are you inside? We're searching for the thief. May we come in?"

Zhu Chuanzong then realized what was happening, hurriedly picked up the woman, shoved her under the table, and called out, "Wait a moment."

Just as he was about to open the door, he remembered that she was actually a large, fat man! He quickly transformed, then opened the door and asked, "What happened?"

The guard captain replied, "Sir, we discovered two thieves in our courtyard. One has been killed, and the other seems to have escaped here. Are you alright, sir? Did you see the thief?"

Zhu Chuanzong hurriedly replied, "No, absolutely not."

The man noticed Zhu Chuanzong's torn clothes and said, "For your safety, sir, may we go in and search the place, lest the thief hides inside and threatens your safety? This thief is ruthless; sir, please be careful."

Zhu Chuanzong quickly said, "I've been reading official documents with the lights on; there's absolutely no thief here. Go somewhere else! Don't waste your time here."

He waved them away and locked the door.

Zhu Chuanzong pulled the woman out. Seeing that she was still unconscious, and in the lamplight, her black clothes and fair face made her appear delicate and beautiful, and he couldn't help but admire her more and more. As they stood there dumbfounded, there was a knock at the door, and someone outside called out, "Lord Zhu, this is Wan Hanshui, the garrison commander. Please open the door, sir."

Zhu Chuanzong hurriedly said, "What are you doing? Whatever it is, we'll talk about it tomorrow!"

Wan Hanshui said, "Sir, we are apprehending thieves outside. Please come out so we can search you."

Wan Hanshui's tone was firm and unyielding. It turned out that the guards, seeing that Zhu Chuanzong wouldn't allow a search, had gone to consult their leader, Wan Hanshui.

Upon hearing this, Wan Hanshui came personally. He knew that Zhu Chuanzong was a high-ranking official, a third-rank official in the Censorate. If anything happened to Zhu Chuanzong in the Censorate, Wan Hanshui would face the execution of his entire family. Therefore, Wan Hanshui was anxious and insisted on a search.

Zhu Chuanzong angrily said, "I already told you there's no thief in the house, don't you believe me? Get out of here!"

Wan Hanshui, sensing something amiss in his tone, became even more suspicious and said, "Sir, if you don't open the door, I'll break it down!"

Zhu Chuanzong broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly said, "Wait a moment."

Thinking quickly, he removed the woman's black clothes, placed her on the couch where she usually rested, covered her with a blanket, and then opened the door.

Wan Hanshui saw Zhu Chuanzong standing angrily at the door, clearly not being held hostage, but why wouldn't he open the door and allow a search? He was greatly puzzled.

Wan Hanshui and his guards searched the inside, saw a beautiful woman lying on the couch, pretended not to see her, and then left.

Wan Hanshui looked apologetic and said, "Sir, I'm sorry for my rudeness. I was only thinking of your safety. Please forgive my impetuousness."

Zhu Chuanzong thought it best not to embarrass him too much, so he said, "It's good that there were no thieves. I know you are very responsible in your work, and you deserve praise."

Then he smiled and whispered, "Please don't tell anyone. I'll treat you to dinner another day."

Wan Hanshui also smiled broadly and said, "Sir, you have excellent taste. A beauty that's hard to find anywhere! Don't worry, sir, if anyone dares to tell anyone, I'll chop off their head. Please enjoy yourself, sir. I'll take my leave now."

After dismissing those people, Zhu Chuanzong saw that the woman was still unconscious, so he checked her breathing before he felt relieved. After thinking for a moment, he transformed into a large fat man, then took some water and placed it on the woman's forehead. After a while, the woman woke up, saw Zhu Chuanzong, screamed, and immediately reached for her sword, saying, "You fat pig, a lackey of the court, I'm going to kill you!"

Zhu Chuanzong hurriedly said, "Don't be alarmed, I'm trying to save you! Otherwise, you would have been taken away by the guards long ago."

The woman froze, then saw that her clothes had been stripped off, and immediately cried out, "You lecherous thief!"

She then began to beat and kick him.

Zhu Chuanzong dared not retaliate, letting her punch and kick him. It didn't hurt much, so he let it go, saying, "I had no choice! Think about it! How can I fool the guards into thinking you're a maid here if I don't take off my black clothes? Check your underwear, see if it's been removed, then you can continue hitting me!"

The woman, tired from hitting him, thought Zhu Chuanzong's words made sense and stopped. Seeing that nothing was wrong inside, she relaxed and said, "Why didn't you send me to prison? You scoundrel, what kind of scheme are you plotting?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "What's your name? Why did you come to the Censorate to steal? My name is... Zhu... Zhu Tong."

The woman said, "Pah! You're the one who stole!" "Hey! You officials are all thieves. No, you're all robbers!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I'm a good person. You can't generalize about officials! Tell me, what are you doing here? Maybe I can help you!"

The woman said, "So you wanted to find out my background, no wonder you didn't send me to jail. But I have nothing to hide. I just want to clear the name of Lord Li Dongchang."

Zhu Chuanzong asked in surprise, "Li Dongchang? Isn't he a newly appointed magistrate after passing the imperial examination? Ning Zhisheng said he was caught soliciting prostitutes and embezzling public funds, so he was imprisoned. But yesterday, the Left Censor-in-Chief Wang submitted a memorial saying that Li Dongchang was wronged because Shanyang County embezzled disaster relief funds..." He was denounced, so the officials conspired to frame him. The case was serious, and the Emperor was furious. However, when questioned, Lord Wang stammered and couldn't give a clear answer. Back at the Censorate, Lord Wang was enraged, demanding to know who had slipped the memorial into his report to the Emperor, as if he were unaware of the matter!

The woman jumped up excitedly, saying, "I came here specifically to find out about this, and today I finally know the result. The matter is settled; even if I die, I can die in peace."

Zhu Chuanzong asked, "You came for this?"

The woman arrogantly replied, "That's right. Do you know where that memorial came from? My master and I secretly put it into his memorial the other day. The matter has taken a turn for the better." "I'm relieved. You can do whatever you want with me!"

Zhu Chuanzong was dumbfounded. "Is that so? If you have a grievance, you can come and file a complaint directly! Why are you doing this?"

The woman sneered, "Officials protect each other. Do you think anyone will care?"

Zhu Chuanzong thought she made sense. After a moment of silence, he said, "You have such a chivalrous spirit, I really admire you. Can we be friends? May I ask your name?"

The woman said, "My name is Shui Ling'er, but I don't make friends with lackeys, you pighead."

Zhu Chuanzong blushed and said, "My name is Zhu Tong."

But at least he knew the name of the beautiful woman in front of him, which was something to be happy about.

Shui Ling'er said, "Now that you know everything, you can arrest me."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I'll release you at daybreak, don't worry. I really did come to help you. Tell me about the case you mentioned, maybe I can really help you!"

Shui Ling'er said disdainfully, "You? What kind of official are you?"

Seeing Zhu Chuanzong's enormous appetite, she thought, "This guy might really be able to help! It's always good to have a little hope. At worst, I'll die, I'm not afraid of anything."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I'm a low-ranking official, but I know high-ranking officials! I'll find an opportunity to help you, maybe it will work!"

Shui Ling'er said, "That's true, even if I tell you once for nothing, what can I do?"

So she began to tell the story.

It turned out that the Yellow River had breached its banks, and the area around Shanyang County in Huai'an Prefecture, Ningzhi Province, was the first to be hit. The ravines were interconnected, and many people had died of hunger and cold. If this situation wasn't quickly remedied, it would lead to major chaos. Therefore, the imperial court issued an edict to immediately distribute

relief funds. Counties with grain reserves were to receive grain, while those without reserves or insufficient to distribute grain received relief silver, and efforts were made to purchase and transport grain from neighboring provinces. However, Wang Shen, the magistrate of Shanyang County, saw this as an opportunity to make a fortune from famine relief. He embezzled all 500,000 taels of silver allocated by the central government, only using 5,000 taels for disaster relief.

Following custom, Hu Tie, the provincial governor of Ningzhi Province, dispatched a group of officials to various disaster areas to inspect relief work. The official sent to Shanyang County was Li Dongchang, a newly appointed scholar. Normally, according to the old tradition of officials protecting each other, such inspections and verifications were merely formalities; the important thing was that everyone took money, and those who had already pocketed the money only needed to return some. Therefore, Wang Shen was not in a hurry and instructed his advisor, Bao Zhi, to contact Li Dongchang's advisor, Zhao Daxiang, preparing to bribe him to settle the matter.

Little did anyone know that after inspecting the various villages, Li Dongchang was deeply shocked by the plight of the disaster victims struggling on the verge of death. Upon returning to the county and reviewing the household registers, he discovered serious corruption and was preparing to report it to the provincial government.

Wang Shen was alarmed and offered 200,000 taels of silver as a share of the spoils. However, Li Dongchang, being upright and determined to be an honest official, immediately refused and declared that he would report Wang Shen's bribery to the provincial governor.

Seeing that Li Dongchang was about to return to the province, Wang Shen panicked and devised a vicious plan. He drugged Li Dongchang's wine, sent him to a brothel, and then had him arrested, catching him red-handed and thus turning the tables on him.

Zhu Chuanzong, upon hearing this, was furious, saying, "Is there no justice in this world? Don't worry, young lady, I will definitely help you with this matter."

As for what strange experiences Zhu Chuanzong would have later, and what romantic entanglements he would have with the beautiful Shui Ling'er, please stay tuned for the next episode.

Episode 3

Synopsis:

Zhu Chuanzong, who was working all night at the Censorate, once again volunteered to investigate a case in Shanyang County after hearing the assassin Shui Ling'er's account. This time, he not only held the title of Imperial Inspector but also possessed an imperial sword, allowing him to execute corrupt officials and act expediently.

Traveling incognito, he encountered a grain official embezzling and neglecting his duties in Wugu County. He executed the official on the spot and then publicly tried the case. The magistrate, seeing the seriousness of the situation, invoked the law to refute him. How would Zhu Chuanzong respond?

On his way to Shanyang County, he met Wang Dingli. The two drank and talked happily, eventually becoming sworn brothers. But what is Wang Dingli's true identity? How will he affect Zhu Chuanzong's future investigations?

Chapter 1: Government Affairs

Zhu Chuanzong was engrossed in reading documents at the Censorate, and by the time he realized it, it was already late at night. He decided not to go home and continued reading documents all night long.

Zhu Chuanzong read through the cases of shady dealings in the construction industry and unpaid wages, and found them truly shocking. There were so many unreasonable, arrogant, and lawless things happening. The more Zhu Chuanzong read, the angrier he became. Just then, a stunningly beautiful thief named Shui Ling'er burst in.

Zhu Chuanzong was stunned by her beauty. After rescuing her, he listened to her explanation of her purpose for coming, which included a huge miscarriage of justice. Zhu Chuanzong, filled with righteous indignation, said, "Miss Shui, since you're not a bad person, I'll find a way to release you. I'll do my best to help you with the case you mentioned."

Shui Ling'er showed no gratitude, calmly saying, "My master sacrificed her life to save me. I'm very grateful to her. But she doesn't know that I'm her good disciple. How could I not share her compassion for saving lives? We've already achieved our purpose here; even if we die, it won't be in vain. Since I dared to come here, I've already disregarded life and death. If you're thinking of any tricks, you'd better give up. Don't even think about getting anything out of me."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "You're overthinking it. I genuinely want to help you. I'll let you go as soon as it's light."

But seeing her bright eyes and pearly white teeth, though her face was icy, she was still incredibly charming. He truly loved her and was reluctant to let her go.

Seeing Shui Ling'er's cold demeanor and lack of trust in him, Zhu Chuanzong suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He said, "I remember now. I heard that the Emperor is sending an imperial envoy to Shanyang County to investigate the case you mentioned. It's said that it's the newly appointed Right Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, Lord Zhu Chuanzong. I have some connections with him, and I might go with him to investigate the case! Since you know the inside story, why don't you come with me to help Lord Zhu investigate the

case? Wouldn't that suit your wishes perfectly?" Upon hearing this, Shui Ling'er sighed and said, "What Zhu Chuanzong? I've never heard of such an official in the court. It seems that hoping the court will investigate this case is hopeless! Did my master and I die in vain?"

Zhu Chuanzong quickly said, "How could that be? Lord Zhu is a good official. His father is the Minister of Works, and he has always been known for his virtue. Now you can rest assured! What case can't he solve?" Shui Ling'er rolled her eyes at Zhu Chuanzong and sneered, "

So you're the young master of the Zhu family! You're also surnamed Zhu, so you're related to them, right? Your backer is the Zhu family, isn't it? The Zhu family is incredibly wealthy and powerful. With the Zhu family as your backer, you must have quite a background! What kind of official are you? Not a high-ranking one, right? Otherwise, why would you be working so late at night? Are you a clerk? But looking at how young you are, you wouldn't be working in the Censorate if you didn't have connections! 'Behind the red gates, meat and wine go to waste, while on the road, frozen corpses lie.' You corrupt officials, how could you know the suffering of the people? It seems that the case has fallen into the hands of you bad officials, so there's no hope for you. Originally, I hoped that the Emperor would hear about the injustice and send Censor Huang to investigate! That way, Lord Li could be exonerated. But now it seems..."

Shui Ling'er sighed, her face full of worry.

This was the first time Zhu Chuanzong had heard someone speak ill of his Zhu family to his face, and he was very displeased. Seeing her aggressive and rapid-fire tone, he became even more enraged and was about to erupt in anger when he suddenly noticed Shui Ling'er's sorrowful face and pitiful appearance, which evoked sympathy. He was so captivated that he froze, unable to utter a harsh word. He wanted to explain, but remembering his current status, he quickly considered his options and stammered, "I am... a sixth-rank clerk. Lord Zhu is a brilliant detective, known as 'Zhu Qingtian' by the people! He's a good official, and I think he could actually help you! Besides, the Zhu family you mentioned is said to be very benevolent, but how could you speak of them so negatively?" "What? Do you perhaps have some grudge against the Zhu family? I think there's some misunderstanding!"

Shui Ling'er said frankly, "You're an official and a relative of theirs, so naturally you'd speak well of the Zhu family. I've heard that the Zhu family is indeed always kind and generous, but wasn't all of Zhu Youji's money embezzled? It's all the hard-earned money of the common people, so naturally he doesn't care and is willing to squander it."

Zhu Chuanzong was taken aback and said, "Is Minister Zhu really as despicable as you say?"

Although Zhu Chuanzong was an outstanding man and retained a bit of divine wisdom, everyone has a flaw: they can't see the flaws in their own family members and always think the best of them. The Zhu family was so extravagant, yet Zhu Chuanzong never suspected anything.

Shui Ling'er sneered, "Yes...of course not. Land prices are soaring these days, houses are incredibly expensive. Ordinary people can only afford a house with their life savings, and sometimes they can't even afford one. This is all thanks to him. What's so despicable about him?"

Zhu Chuanzong had never heard of Shui Ling'er before and didn't understand her deeper meaning. It involved his own family, and his mind was in turmoil. He had only thought his father had been misled by others regarding those construction projects, but now, hearing someone speak ill of his father, he vaguely sensed that things weren't so simple. However, it wasn't the time to investigate further. He quickly smiled and said, "Miss, why are you saying such irrelevant things instead of thinking about your own safety? If you really want to seek justice for Li Dongchang, listen to me, and I guarantee I can help you.

" Shui Ling'er paused for a moment, sized up Zhu Chuanzong, and then said calmly, "No need. I think you don't need to waste your efforts. I won't be fooled by you. A person's fate is mostly determined by heaven. I've done my best for Lord Li; the rest is up to fate. Originally, I hoped that someone from the court would seek justice for him, but it was really a last resort."

Seeing that he couldn't persuade her, Zhu Chuanzong thought for a moment and said, "If you want to know about Li Dongchang's case, we'll meet at Zuixianlou at noon three days from now."

Shui Ling'er nodded slightly, thinking, "Could he really be going to let me go? This fat man doesn't look impressive, but he's very skilled in martial arts. It seems that there are really hidden talents in the court; we can't underestimate him!"

It turned out that Shui Ling'er and her master were members of a sect that specifically rebelled against the court—the Taishang Laojun Sect. Shui Ling'er was the goddaughter of the sect leader, Shui Fengliang, and later changed her surname.

The Taishang Laojun Sect worshipped the celestial deity Taishang Laojun. On the surface, their doctrines were integrity, non-action, fairness, and benevolence, but internally they opposed the government and corrupt officials.

Shanyang County suffered a devastating flood, leaving its people in dire straits. Instead of providing aid, the county magistrate, Wang Shen, profited from the disaster, pocketing the funds allocated by the imperial court. The people were left homeless and starving, with many dying. Li Dongchang, an official from the province on an inspection tour, witnessed this plight and wanted to help the people. However, he was framed by Magistrate Wang Shen. The Taishang Laojun Sect, learning of this, saw Li Dongchang as a rare and virtuous official and decided to plead his case. Shui Ling'er and her master, Ye Feifei, devised a clever plan to secretly submit a memorial to the emperor—a method they had used before.

If they were to submit the memorial to the Censorate through normal channels, it would certainly be ignored. Of course, even if they did submit it normally, they would have to offer gifts and seek favors. Li Dongchang's use of official duties to solicit prostitutes, approved by Hu Tie, the Provincial Treasurer of Ningzhi Province, and reported to the Ministry of Personnel, was practically an ironclad case; overturning it was virtually impossible. However, Shui Ling'er and her master Ye Feifei secretly sneaked into the Censorate and slipped a petition pleading for Li Dongchang's release into the memorial submitted by the Left Censor-in-Chief Wang Ren to the Emperor. Wang Ren, caught off guard, fell for the trap.

The Censorate was a crucial government office, heavily guarded and surrounded by high walls. Who would dare to be so audacious as to try something like this? Therefore, although the Censorate had many guards, it was generally lax in its security. Coupled with Shui Ling'er and Ye Feifei's skill in scaling walls and rooftops, they easily accomplished their mission. However, unaware of the situation, they returned the next evening to inquire about the outcome, only to be discovered by the guards who had laid a trap .

Ye Feifei risked her life to save Shui Ling'er, but to no avail. Their fate was truly unfortunate.

The efficiency of official business in the yamen was notoriously slow. When the Left Censor-in-Chief Wang Ren arrived from court, he was furious, knowing his memorial had been erroneous. He initially suspected the clerks were behind it, perhaps bribed, or plotting against him. He summoned his trusted advisor, Zhang Shiye, to ask for his opinion and to see if he could secretly find the culprit to avoid future trouble.

Coincidentally, Zhang Shiye had a relative who served as an official in Ningzhi Province—the very same county magistrate whose memorial had been secretly leaked. This magistrate, having been tricked, dared not speak out and could only suffer in silence. Only a few people knew of the affair, and Zhang Shiye happened to be one of them.

Zhang Shiye, always shrewd, considered all the officials in the room. It seemed no one would dare risk such a thing. Besides, everyone in the yamen was extremely clever, adept at reading the wind and maneuvering, and no one would be foolish enough to take such a risk. He then recounted the shameful affair of his relative, Zhang Zhancang, the county magistrate of Wugu County in Ningzhi Province. He vehemently denounced the followers of Laozi's sect for their audacity in mocking court officials, expressing sympathy for Zhang Zhancang and praising his pitiful state. In this way, he subtly introduced Zhang to the Censor, hoping to evoke a sense of shared suffering and pave the way for future praise of Zhang.

Wang Ren, though skeptical, ordered his guards to be on high alert. Unfortunately, Ye Feifei and her master walked right into his trap. Of course, Shui Ling'er had no idea of the true story.

At this time, dawn was breaking. Zhu Chuanzong said, "I'm going out for a bit. A sedan chair will escort you out, and then you'll know I didn't lie to you. Remember our agreement in three days."

Zhu Chuanzong smiled and left.

Outside, he transformed back into his original form and went to find the garrison commander, Wan Hanshui, asking him to escort Shui Ling'er out, otherwise, the guards outside were too tight, making it difficult to leave.

Meanwhile, Wan Hanshui and his guards searched all night without any leads. The thief they had knocked down was severely wounded, barely breathing, and clearly not going to survive. The doctor they had summoned that very night also shook his head, saying there was no hope.

Wan Hanshui hadn't held out much hope anyway and had given up. But even if the thief had fled to the ends of the earth, there should still be some trace of him! They searched the entire Censorate but found no trace of him. Wan Hanshui was furious.

Wan Hanshui was extremely anxious. Suddenly, he thought, "The seriously injured thief is a woman in her fifties. Could the one who escaped also be a woman?"

Wan Hanshui slapped his forehead, cursing himself for being foolish. He thought, "I was deceived by that young girl's appearance. I thought such a beautiful girl couldn't possibly be a thief! Rumors say Zhu Chuanzong is a eunuch. How could he, like other officials, keep a girl in his room?"

After thinking this through, Wan Hanshui suddenly had another thought: "Since Lord Zhu doesn't like women, why would he protect that female thief? That's right, Zhu Chuanzong may be impotent, but he can still like women! Most of the eunuchs in the palace have wives!"

Wan Hanshui thought it over and over, considering everything, and then pondered how to find Zhu Chuanzong and extract information from him.

The most important thing for an official is to curry favor with his superiors and make them happy. Other matters like morality, right and wrong, are not within the scope of consideration. Although Zhu Chuanzong wasn't Wan Hanshui's direct superior, he was one of his superiors. Wan Hanshui would never dare to offend him just to curry favor. Even if the highest-ranking leader was satisfied with him, if Zhu Chuanzong looked down on him and constantly harassed him, it would be a losing proposition. Therefore, Wan Hanshui decided to sound him out first. Just as

Wan Hanshui was pondering what excuse to use to see Zhu Chuanzong, he suddenly heard from his subordinates that Lord Zhu had come to see him. Overjoyed, he quickly ushered Zhu Chuanzong into the house, his face beaming with smiles, and ordered tea to be served.

Wan Hanshui said, "Sir, you've been busy with official duties, staying up so late last night and getting up so early today. You must be exhausted."

Zhu Chuanzong replied, "I'm young and in good health; what's so tiring about that? It's just that you've been working so hard catching thieves, I wonder how it's going?"

Wan Hanshui said, "Reporting to you, sir, there's still one thief we haven't caught. He's hiding in the yamen, and all of you leaders are in great danger! I don't know what to do! I was just about to ask you for advice. The guards said that the escaped thief seems to be a woman."

After Wan Hanshui finished speaking, he glanced at Zhu Chuanzong.

Zhu Chuanzong was very clever; how could he not understand the implication in his words? He thought to himself, "Oh no, this kid knows about Shui Ling'er."

After pondering for a moment, he said, "I don't think this is a big deal. It must be that the petty thief who stole the money mistakenly entered our yamen. Since you haven't found the escaped thief, he must have escaped from the yamen. There's no need to pursue it further, lest the leaders worry. You let a thief escape, which is also a dereliction of duty. Anyway, only I know about this, so it's better not to report it to the higher-ups. If any problems arise, I will take full responsibility. The fact that you were able to catch a thief shows that you are conscientious and responsible. I will speak with the leaders..." "We reported this to you, and we'll recommend you for a reward."

Upon hearing this, Wan Hanshui quickly nodded in agreement, thinking to himself, "Lord Zhu has really gone to great lengths for that woman!" He

smiled and said, "Your Excellency is so thoughtful. I will obey your command. Thank you for your consideration. Is there anything else you need, sir?"

Zhu Chuanzong smiled and said, "Nothing much, but my personal maid..."

He whispered in Wan Hanshui's ear, "The one you saw last night, please escort her out of the yamen. Don't let anyone else see her. You know, it's illegal to have female relatives in the yamen. I'm entrusting everything to you."

Wan Hanshui had done this kind of thing many times before. Which official didn't do this? However, who would dare to check the comings and goings of someone like Zhu Chuanzong, the fifth-ranking leader of the Censorate? It was a bit strange that he asked for his help without going himself, thus exposing his own shameful affairs, or rather, his weaknesses, to him.

Wan Hanshui suddenly felt a sense of gratitude, his heart overflowing with emotion. He realized the young man before him was no longer a naive youth, and excitedly said, "Since you trust me so much, I will certainly do my best. But I wonder where you intend to take her?"

Zhu Chuanzong replied, "Just take her outside. The rest is up to her."

Suddenly, a thought struck him: "What if Miss Shui doesn't trust me? What if she doesn't come looking for me again? Then I'll never see her again!"

Remembering her unparalleled beauty, he couldn't bear to part with her, and said aloud, "Wait a minute, let me think about whether to send someone to follow her."

Wan Hanshui was taken aback, then laughed, "You are indeed wise, sir! So you're playing the long game! These two members of the Laozi Sect are so arrogant; they must have accomplices. If we find out their hideout, that would be truly a great opportunity!" "What a great achievement!"

Zhu Chuanzong was stunned. "What Taishang Laojun Sect?"

Wan Hanshui said smugly, "So you didn't know their background, sir. These two are members of the Taishang Laojun Sect. Otherwise, how could ordinary thieves dare to commit crimes in the government office? The Taishang Laojun Sect has tens of thousands of followers, spanning five or six provinces. They specifically oppose the imperial court; they're incredibly audacious! If you catch their leader, the achievement will be immense!"

Zhu Chuanzong had never heard of the Taishang Laojun Sect before. The few memories he retained in heaven were about the Purple Silk Fairy and some random, useless cultivation formulas. But Taishang Laojun was unforgettable. He had helped him retain memories that mortals shouldn't have, allowing him to live like a walking corpse. He was his great benefactor. Since there were his followers in the mortal world, he had to help them. Even bad people should be helped to reform, let alone someone like Shui Ling'er—how could she be a bad person?

Seeing that Zhu Chuanzong remained silent and observing his expression, Wan Hanshui assumed he was reluctant to part with the beauty and said, "Sir, it would be better to send someone to follow her. Once we know her hideout, the girl can be released. It would be such a waste for such a beautiful girl to go to jail. If you educate her properly, she might repent!"

Zhu Chuanzong didn't answer him but instead asked, "What about the thief you caught?"

Wan Hanshui replied, "The doctor said she suffered an internal injury and wouldn't survive. I don't know if she's dead yet."

One of his subordinates went out to inquire and returned, saying, "That thief is still breathing, but since she's not going to live anyway, should we help her by giving her a cut to avoid trouble?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "No need. Have the doctor do everything he can to prolong her life. Take my letter and go to the Imperial Hospital to invite Physician Zhang Chaozhong to save her. Then send her to my residence, even if she's a corpse."

The man hurriedly obeyed and left.

Zhu Chuanzong said to the puzzled Wan Hanshui, "You don't need to send anyone to follow Miss Shui, lest you alert her. On the way, just casually mention the injured thief and say he's not dead yet, and that he's been taken to a gentleman named Zhu Tong for treatment."

Wan Hanshui suddenly understood and said, "My lord, you are exceptionally clever; I truly admire you. No wonder there are rumors that you are a young hero, a brilliant detective; it's indeed true!"

He said quite a few flattering things.

After finishing his business, Zhu Chuanzong, having not slept all night and having nothing important to do the next day, returned home to rest.

When he arrived home, Hua Caiyun sent a servant to invite him over. Zhu Chuanzong assumed that she was jealous of his absence and wanted to teach him a lesson! Hua Caiyun was like a wife and sister-in-law to him, their relationship was extraordinary, and she managed the household affairs, making her the head of the household, so she was entitled to discipline him. Although Zhu Chuanzong wasn't afraid, he was somewhat worried, so as soon as he entered, he said, "Sister-in-law, I was on official business last night, so you can't wrong me."

Hua Caiyun chuckled and said, "Looking at you, so anxious and aggrieved, it's really funny. You're an adult now, and a high-ranking official of the court, you have your own freedom! As long as you don't go too far outside, I can't be bothered with you. I called you here because of serious business. Prefect Wu Zheng of Lu Tongfu in Jianghuai Province sent many gifts, and here's his letter, praising you highly! Although he's here to curry favor with you, his praise is quite fitting; it seems there are no fools in officialdom! As for these gifts, the master said it's your business whether you accept them or not."

Zhu Chuan Zhu Chuanzong was taken aback and said, "No, absolutely not. That boy is a corrupt official. I'll deal with him sooner or later. How can I accept his dirty deeds?"

Hua Caiyun said, "Do as you please! Our family has plenty of money, and you don't need to earn any. It's best not to accept gifts. Master said the same thing. From what he said to me, he meant that you should focus on being a good official and never be corrupt. Our family doesn't need you to make money. As long as you can be a safe and sound official and climb the ranks, that's enough."

Zhu Chuanzong was grateful and said, "Father really said that? I certainly won't let him down. I will work hard to be a good official." "Be a good official. But the word 'climb' you used, sister-in-law, is a bit strange."

Hua Caiyun laughed, "The most important thing for an official is to cultivate relationships and pull strings. It seems you're still young and don't understand these things. Your father is worried about you because of this. He says you're young and impulsive, and he tells you to be careful not to stand up for justice or the safety and welfare of the people, lest you offend officials. Serving the court and the people is right, but you can't disregard yourself; you must act within your capabilities. When he was young, he was just as righteous as you, hating evil, but he messed things up and suffered many losses. You're much smarter now..." "I'll definitely understand what you mean, sir."

Zhu Chuanzong felt as if he'd been doused with cold water. He had no mind to ponder the meaning behind his father's words; he only felt that his father's upright and righteous image had vanished, and his goodwill towards him had diminished considerably. He frowned and said, "Isn't it good to hate evil like an enemy? Is this also a mistake?"

Hua Caiyun chuckled and said, "Master said you wouldn't listen to him, and sure enough, that's how it is. But it's good for a young man to take risks. As long as you don't commit a heinous crime, our family can still protect you. Once you hit a wall and suffer, you'll understand. You'd better take care of yourself!"

05-15
Chapter Two: The Beginning of the Case

Zhu Chuanzong returned home and overheard his sister-in-law Hua Caiyun's conversation. From what she said, it seemed that both she and his father felt that the most important thing for officials was to climb the ranks, and that for their own benefit, they could disregard the common people. Otherwise, it seemed they would be taking a great risk, which made him indignant. Not wanting to argue with her face-to-face, he returned to his room, sullen and silent, simply lying on the bed, thinking, "No wonder Miss Shui said our family is rich, but lacks conscience; it seems there's some truth to it."

Zhu Chuanzong's face was grim. Nuanyun and Xiaoyu, seeing he hadn't returned all night, were also unhappy. They exchanged glances. Nuanyun brought tea and cautiously asked, "Young Master, what's wrong? Is something bothering you at the yamen? You're new to the Censorate, not yet familiar with official duties. It's not strange if you don't understand everything. There's no need to be angry!"

The two women had asked Zhu Chuanzong's attendants, Wang Daniu and others, and learned that Zhu Chuanzong had been working at the yamen last night.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "It's not what you think. Nuanyun, tell me, if I'm wholeheartedly concerned for the country and the people, isn't that right? Why are they all stopping me?"

Nuanyun had never paid attention to these matters and didn't understand. She hesitated, unsure how to answer. Xiao Yu sneered, "That's right, who is Young Master? Young Master is a man of great deeds. You are the savior of the poor and needy! For the sake of the people, you are willing to risk your reputation and your life! Without you, who knows what chaos the world would be in! You are not comparable to those fame-seeking opportunists!"

Xiao Yu's words were sarcastic, mocking his self-righteousness. Zhu Chuanzong felt a jolt, a surge of anger rising in his heart. He thought, "Xiao Yu is right. When I handle cases, I hesitate and consider all aspects. It's not for justice and fairness, but rather for my own benefit. Mr. Wu is a long-time official; naturally, he understands the ways of officialdom." "It's a bad habit, so he's indecisive and indecisive when doing things, which has emboldened many wicked people. I will never involve him again. I will wipe out all those corrupt officials. The Emperor has always said he wants to rectify the social atmosphere; he hates corruption the most. After all, this is his family's empire. I don't believe that if I were to protect his family's empire, he wouldn't support me. Since I'm determined to do great things, how can I be so hesitant and self-serving?"

Zhu Chuanzong thought for a moment, then laughed heartily and said, "Xiao Yu is right. I shouldn't be so self-righteous. I did a little good and thought I was a savior. I understand. Time to sleep."

He then lay down and fell asleep. He resolved not to care what others thought, but to act according to his own ideas. As for reputation and honor, as long as he had a clear conscience, what did it matter what others thought? With his resolve firm, he felt at peace and fell asleep soon after.

The next day, Zhu Chuanzong rose early to prepare a memorial before attending court. After Emperor Mingzong and his ministers dealt with some matters, Emperor Mingzong inquired of Wang Ren, the Left Censor-in-Chief, about the case of Li Dongchang.

Wang Ren had already prepared his words after the court session the previous day. Moreover, because the case involved Hu Tie, the Provincial Governor of Ningzhi Province, a powerful official with many friends in court, those officials quickly used their connections to plead for him. Wang Ren had never wanted to get involved in this hot potato, so he was happy to do them a favor. Some of these officials were people he had no prior connection with; now he could make contact and potentially get things done together. It seemed a bad thing had turned into a good thing.

Wang Ren stepped forward and knelt before the hall, intending to say that the original memorial was based on hearsay, but now the investigation had been thorough, and Li Dongchang was indeed of bad character, having taken prostitutes during official duties, disgracing scholars and the court, and deserving severe punishment. Before he could speak, a man knelt behind him and said, “Your Majesty, I know more about this case than Lord Wang. Indeed, there are rumors that Li Dongchang is a very honest official. Shanyang County was found to have embezzled public funds for disaster relief, and when they failed to bribe him, they plotted to frame him. Lord Wang has heard this, but he is unsure of its veracity and is in a difficult position. I think it would be better to send me to Shanyang County; then the truth will come out.”

Wang Ren was shocked. He had never seen such a bold and reckless subordinate official submit a memorial to the Emperor without his consent. However, being cunning and shrewd, he maintained a cheerful facade, saying, "Your Majesty is wise. Since the case is so perplexing and of such great importance, as Censor Zhu suggested, why not send an imperial envoy? However, although Censor Zhu is young, he is shrewd and capable, a trusted advisor whom I cannot do without. Perhaps it would be better to send another capable official to handle this matter; it would be just as effective."

Wang Ren deftly defused the situation. If the imperial envoy sent was one of his confidants, wouldn't everything be much easier? Moreover, if the matter escalated, wouldn't Hu Tie, the Provincial Governor of Ningzhi Province, readily offer even more benefits?

Thinking of this, Wang Ren suddenly realized, "Zhu Chuanzong is quite a talent! By making this matter bigger, wouldn't the favor I do for him be even greater? Letting this kid play the villain while I profit—could he be intentionally trying to curry favor with me? If so, this boy's mind is unfathomable!"

Zhu Chuanzong was audacious, yet Wang Ren believed he was deliberately trying to curry favor!

Wang Renzheng thought he had succeeded, but Emperor Mingzong pondered for a moment and said, "Since Zhu Shaoqing is young and promising, he should go out and gain experience so that he can make greater contributions to our Great Liang Kingdom in the future. Let's send him! I appoint you as the Governor of Eight Prefectures to investigate Li Dongchang's case. Please go and return as soon as possible, and make sure the truth of the case is revealed to the world."

Zhu Chuanzong was overjoyed and hurriedly kowtowed to accept the decree.

Emperor Mingzong continued, "Since I ascended the throne, it has been twenty-six years. I feel that I have never stopped thinking about the country and its people. You have all worked hard to assist me. However, now that the country has been at peace for a long time, the officials below have become lazy and corrupt, and bad rumors often reach my ears. I am old and do not want to start a bloodbath. But for the sake of the Tang family's country, I have no choice but to do so. You should all take care of yourselves!"

Emperor Mingzong was in high spirits and spoke many earnest words of advice. The ministers nodded and nodded in agreement, praising him repeatedly. Finally, Emperor Mingzong bestowed upon Zhu Chuanzong an imperial sword and then adjourned the court.

Back at the Censorate, Wang Ren summoned Zhu Chuanzong for a talk, his face full of kindness. He smiled and said, "Sir, it seems the Emperor greatly appreciates you. Your future is limitless! You are the first imperial envoy of your age in the sixty-three years since the founding of this dynasty. When I was young, I was second in the imperial examinations, but I didn't rise as fast as you. The Emperor treats you so well; you must repay him properly!"

Zhu Chuanzong smiled and said, "You're too kind, sir. I owe my current position entirely to your promotion. Without your discerning eye, I wouldn't be where I am today, let alone have the honor of being received by the Emperor."

Wang Ren laughed heartily and said, "It's good that you know. Your father and I have known each other for over ten years; you don't need such formalities. I just wonder how you plan to handle this case on this trip?"

Zhu Chuanzong replied, "Naturally, I will get to the bottom of things." "That's good. Our officials of Liang are representatives of the nation; how can they be falsely accused? If Li Dongchang has truly been framed, and these black sheep have shown no regard for our court, I will not forgive them. But if Li Dongchang is morally corrupt, I will also punish him severely. In short, this case must be thoroughly investigated and publicized to the world as a warning."

Wang Ren stroked his beard and pondered, saying, "Your idea is good. But do you know? Hu Tie, the Provincial Governor of Ningzhi Province, is a prized student of the Left Prime Minister, Li Yiheng. Prime Minister Li has made great contributions, and next year his term as Prime Minister will expire at twenty years. Throughout history, how many people have achieved such merit? What if… Of course, it may not be Prime Minister Hu's fault, but what if you investigate and find that someone has wronged Li Dongchang? The Emperor will be furious, and if the investigation is thorough, Hu Tie will be undeniably guilty, but Prime Minister Li will also be guilty of negligence in appointing officials." "A crime indeed! Your reputation will be ruined in your later years!"

Zhu Chuanzong, hearing him speak of the power struggle between the high-ranking official, Left Chancellor Li, and the Provincial Governor of Ningzhi Province, realized the matter was not as simple as he had imagined. It seemed this case involved a great deal, but he could not back down. He lowered his head and said, "This humble servant is only thinking of the court; I dare not have any other thoughts."

Wang Ren said, "Yes, and His Majesty intends to grant Lord Li his wish, allowing him to retire unscathed in his lifetime. This will not only preserve his reputation, but His Majesty will also gain the title of a sage emperor throughout history. Think about it, throughout history, which emperor has held a prime minister for twenty years? Such a benevolent and wise ruler is probably unprecedented!"

Zhu Chuanzong gasped, thinking, "Is it really that difficult to do a good deed? Mr. Wu said that all matters involving officials are the result of struggles between various interests, and it's impossible to determine who is right and just." "It seems this is the case too. What should I do? If the Emperor doesn't support me, can I continue the investigation?"

Seeing Zhu Chuanzong's face change drastically, his disappointment barely concealed, Wang Ren smiled and said, "Young man, it's good to have the heart to repay the Emperor's kindness, but you don't need to be so serious about everything. If the Emperor knew that no one framed Li Dongchang, he would be even happier. The Emperor is a rare wise ruler throughout history. During his reign, no major cases have occurred, which will be written in history books. After the truth comes out, the Emperor will be pleased, and I will recommend you for credit."

Zhu Chuanzong thought to himself, "You bastard! It's because the court has sycophants like you who only know how to flatter the Emperor and only think about their own interests that the common people have nowhere to seek justice."

But he couldn't confront Wang Ren directly, so he nodded and pretended to agree. After Wang Ren finished speaking, thinking that Zhu Chuanzong would handle the case according to his wishes, he served tea and saw him off.

Zhu Chuanzong returned home, seething with anger. He thought, "Even if I quit my post, I'll get to the bottom of this case."

While Zhu Chuanzong was fuming at home, a servant came to report that the Left Chancellor, Li Yiheng, had summoned him. Zhu Chuanzong, still angry, thought, "I just got home, and he's already making me listen to him. Looks like he's instructing me not to oppose him and to just obey him. These officials, they've really lost all conscience!"

But he couldn't refuse, so he went by sedan chair. Upon arriving at Li's residence, he entered a small study where a man sat reading. He was lean and capable, with gray hair—it was none other than the Left Chancellor, Li Yiheng.

Zhu Chuanzong bowed and said, "I, Zhu Chuanzong, greet Your Excellency."

Although Li Yiheng was old, his eyes were sharp. He looked up and stared at Zhu Chuanzong, who felt a little flustered.

Li Yiheng said, "Please sit,"

gesturing to the seat opposite him.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "How dare I be so rude?"

Li Yiheng nodded and said, "I recall decades ago when I met the Prime Minister, I dared not sit down."

He continued, "Do you know why I summoned you?"

Zhu Chuanzong replied, "No, please instruct me, Your Excellency."

Li Yiheng smiled and said, "Then do you know whose idea it was to send you as an imperial envoy to investigate a case?"

Seeing Zhu Chuanzong's surprised expression, he laughed and said, "I had already recommended you to the Emperor to investigate Li Dongchang's case, but you applied to investigate it yourself. This saved a lot of trouble. The Emperor values you highly; among officials today, there are very few like you who dare to investigate cases and are not afraid of offending people."

Zhu Chuanzong suddenly realized and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Excellency. Otherwise, I would have thought I got this assignment because of good luck!"

Li Yiheng said, "You don't need to thank me. Serving the court is my duty. I have been Prime Minister for almost twenty years and have promoted countless people. If ..." I am a person who deals with things privately, and I have a lot of people under me. Would the emperor still dare to use me? I know what you are thinking. Since the emperor has sent you to investigate the case, and the person you are investigating is my disciple. So I simply pretended that I was the one who promoted you, since I can’t confront you in front of the emperor anyway, right?

Zhu Chuanzong's face turned slightly red and he said, "How dare you think like this!" "

I thought: "This guy is too powerful and can see through people's thoughts. I have to be careful.

Li Yiheng continued: "Boy, although you are smart, you are wrong." I came to you because I have a big thing to entrust you with. I'm not looking for you to do favors or have connections. With my qualifications, if I want to accomplish something, do I need to use my words?

Zhu Chuanzong was shocked by his momentum and became curious, saying, "You have something important to do with me?" What's going on. "

Li Yiheng took a sip of tea and said after a long time: "The wind is going to change. "

Zhu Chuanzong was confused and stared blankly at this old man who was nearly seventy years old but still held the most powerful power in the world.

Li Yiheng slowly said, "His Majesty has decided to rectify official corruption."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Please explain further, Your Excellency."

Li Yiheng said, "His Majesty has always been kind and benevolent in governing the country. This is not wrong in itself, but the officials below are becoming increasingly corrupt and ruthless. Originally, His Majesty wanted to wait until the new emperor ascended the throne to implement drastic measures in order to maintain his reputation for benevolence and righteousness, but now His Majesty wants to change his mind."

Zhu Chuanzong was overjoyed and said, "This is a good thing! I have heard that there are many unjust cases and many corrupt officials outside, and it is precisely the time to rectify them. His Majesty is wholeheartedly concerned for the people of the country, and future generations of history will surely remember him." "How could a serious record like this tarnish His Majesty's wisdom!"

Li Yiheng saw that Zhu Chuanzong's joy was evident and genuine. He thought, "This child is still young and doesn't understand the implications. The Crown Prince is decisive and strong-willed, more strict than benevolent. If His Majesty were to entrust the throne to him, he would certainly act swiftly and decisively, carrying out a thorough overhaul. But now, His Majesty is forced to overstep his bounds and naturally doesn't want to hand over the throne to him. He has chosen a benevolent ruler, fearing that he won't be able to govern the court in the future, so he needs to carry out some reforms to lay the foundation for him. Therefore, His Majesty is going to depose the Crown Prince!"

Thinking this through, Li Yiheng said, "Child, I called you here today to make you understand the Emperor's intentions, and also my intentions. No matter who is involved in the case, you can handle it with confidence. Although Hu Tie is my protégé, if he breaks the law or neglects his duties, the law will not tolerate it, and I cannot protect him."

Zhu Chuanzong was overjoyed and said, "With your words, sir, I will definitely investigate the case thoroughly."

Li Yiheng said, "However, there is one thing: the case is of great importance, and the most important thing is evidence. You cannot act recklessly. Although you are an imperial envoy, without evidence, the Emperor will not stand up for you. You must remember this. You are young, and you must not be rash. Otherwise, without evidence, even if the Emperor and I wanted to help you, we would be unable to."

Zhu Chuanzong was taken aback, then smiled and said, "I understand. The case..." "This is a serious matter, I won't act recklessly."

He thought to himself, "This guy still can't bear to part with his protégé. It seems that without solid evidence, he'll definitely protect him."

Li Yiheng said, "Don't let our conversation today get out. Since I summoned you today, people outside will surely think I'm pleading for Hu Tie. Just acquiesce, so Hu Tie won't be on guard. I've already impeached Hu Tie before the Emperor; he's heard about his misdeeds outside, but he has no evidence. This time, when you go, don't disappoint the Emperor's expectations."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I will do my best, sir, please rest assured."

He thought to himself, "This old man is so cunning, his words are all carefully crafted, no wonder he's been prime minister for so many years."

After Zhu Chuanzong returned home, he was summoned by his father, Zhu Youji.

Zhu Youji only had Zhu Chuanzong as his beloved son, and he doted on him terribly. However, he still had to maintain the dignity of the head of the family, and was very serious in front of Zhu Chuanzong. Zhu Chuanzong was somewhat afraid of him and would avoid him if possible. According to custom, Zhu Chuanzong was supposed to pay his respects to his father every morning and evening, but this was exempted when he was ill. Later, even though Zhu Chuanzong recovered, everyone doted on him, and no one mentioned the rule anymore.

Zhu Chuanzong stood respectfully before Zhu Youji.

Zhu Youji saw that he was dashing and imposing, dressed in official robes, and had a mature air about him, which pleased him. However, he still asked seriously, "I heard that the Prime Minister invited you. I wonder what he said to you?"

Zhu Chuanzong dared not speak carelessly and repeated what Li Yiheng had said to him.

Zhu Youji had been in officialdom for a long time and understood everything. He frowned and said, "It seems that there is going to be a bloody storm in the court. As expected, the Emperor intends to change the Crown Prince. But who will be the heir apparent?"

Perhaps it was the father-son bond, but Zhu Chuanzong dared not ask any questions in front of Zhu Youji and simply listened to his instructions.

Zhu Youji pondered for a moment, then said, "Go ahead, just be careful on your way."

Although Zhu Chuanzong was now an official of the court, he was still a child in his eyes, and he wouldn't discuss court affairs with him.

Zhu Chuanzong had many things to prepare for his trip to investigate a case. When he returned to his room, Hua Caiyun and Zhu Shuiyue were both waiting for him. They had both heard about his departure and had come to visit him.

Hua Caiyun asked him what he needed and prepared it for him. That evening, she also prepared a banquet to bid farewell to the Old Madam and the Madam.

After the banquet, Zhu Chuanzong and Zhu Shuiyue secretly slipped into her building, where they were deeply in love and reluctant to part.

Zhu Shuiyue said, "You've been getting busier and busier lately, surrounded by so many beauties, you've forgotten all about me. Now you're going out again, I don't want to, I want to go with you."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "This time won't work, this case is important, there are some risks, it might be inconvenient to go together."

Zhu Shuiyue said, "Then I can help you!"

Zhu Chuanzong smiled wryly, "You really still treat me like your little brother! I can handle it myself. You can stay home and help your sister-in-law manage the household chores, avoiding the hardship of traveling, wouldn't that be better?"

Zhu Shuiyue bit her lip and said, "But..." "Isn't the pain of unrequited love even more painful? I was just testing your heart. You don't like me following you around and disturbing your flirting with other girls, right? I know what you're thinking."

Zhu Chuanzong suddenly thought of Shui Ling'er, his face flushed, and he said, "I have important business to attend to, don't wrong me, I'm quite troubled right now! Being an official isn't easy. It's all about scheming and backstabbing; every word has to be carefully considered."

Zhu Shuiyue laughed, "Alright, I was just teasing you. I know you want to be a good official and do great things, so you have a lot to do. I'm very happy..." "Actually, as long as you are healthy and safe, I am content and dare not ask for anything else."

Zhu Chuanzong recalled how she had sacrificed her body and reputation for him, giving herself to him. He was deeply moved, realizing that her words were not a lie. He embraced her slender waist and said softly, "Good sister, I know I've neglected you these days, and I want to spend more time with you. Who wouldn't want the sounds of warbling birds and the warmth of soft jade? But since I've come into this world, I can't let it be in vain. There are so many injustices and so many wronged people in this world..." "How can I ignore the people?"

Zhu Shuiyue laughed. "Alright, you're becoming more and more like an official, always talking about official business. I haven't complained about anything. Are you saying I can't even complain a little when you leave? I... I'm also reluctant to part with you!"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed. "Since we're about to part, why not enjoy ourselves while we can? I read a line in a book: 'When life is good, enjoy it to the fullest; don't let the beauty face the moon in vain.' The bright moon hangs in the sky. Come, let's enjoy ourselves while we can and not waste this beautiful night!"

He then kissed Zhu Shuiyue's fair neck, begging for pleasure.

Zhu Shuiyue blushed, tickled, and laughed, scolding, "What kind of poem is this? You made it up. There's no such line in any book."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Even if there isn't, after tonight, when history records my story, it will include this line."

Zhu Shuiyue didn't have time to think further; she was already completely captivated by Zhu Chuanzong's seductive touch.

Chapter Three: Upon arriving in the noble realm,

Zhu Chuanzong finished packing and prepared to depart. This was a major and urgent case, so everything was kept simple. He set off on the three-day date agreed upon with Shui Ling'er. Although he was the apple of the Zhu family's eye, and everyone was reluctant to part with him, he had important business to attend to. For his future success, they had to endure the pain of separation for the time being. Moreover, the Old Madam, being worldly-wise, while feeling some pity for Zhu Chuanzong, wasn't particularly saddened, and it was even less appropriate for others to cry.

Zhu Chuanzong brought the same group of men he had taken on his previous trip, but now with four newly acquired servants. Originally, Zhu Chuanzong didn't want to bring Mr. Wu, as he would have to consider Mr. Wu's opinions and couldn't act freely. However, Zhu Youji was worried, and Zhu Chuanzong knew that arguing would be futile, so he had to endure it.

Wang Daniu, Zhao Laosi, Zhang Laowu, and Qian Laoliu were all ordinary people, honest and kind, and unassuming. Zhu Chuanzong found it easier to use them as attendants.

Zhu Chuanzong discussed the matter with Wu Siyuan for a while, then asked him to take Nuanyun and Xiaoyu ahead and wait for him in Shanyang County. He instructed Fang Zhongxi to make the arrangements, while he, along with Wang Daniu and three others, would wait for Shui Ling'er at Zuixianlou before setting off together.

Nuanyun and Xiaoyu were reluctant, but seeing Zhu Chuanzong's decisiveness, they reluctantly agreed after much persuasion.

Zhu Chuanzong waited at Zuixianlou for a long time, several hours past the agreed time. Thinking Shui Ling'er wouldn't come, he was about to leave in frustration and disappointment when he bumped into the stunningly beautiful Shui Ling'er at the door. Shui Ling'er gazed at him with bright eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

Zhu Chuanzong, who had been annoyed by her long absence, immediately calmed down upon seeing her beautiful appearance.

Before he could even speak, Shui Ling'er said, "I have no choice but to trust you this once. I've been asking around about you, but no one knows who you really are."

Zhu Chuanzong had transformed into a fat man. He wanted to go on a clandestine investigation to find out the truth, and Shui Ling'er could lead the way. Although he looked terrible and was not very mobile, he didn't care because of the investigation and the beautiful woman in front of him.

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "I'm a big shot, how could you so easily figure out my true strength?"

He walked and talked with Shui Ling'er, while Wang Daniu and his four servants followed at a distance.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Miss, why don't you trust me? I know you have a prejudice against officials, but why did you take such a big risk for Li Dongchang? Isn't he an official? Or do you have other reasons?"

He thought to himself, "Could it be that his lover is this guy..."

He was very worried.

Shui Ling'er said, "He's a good official. It's precisely because there are so many corrupt officials that he seems so precious, which is why my master and I spared no effort to save him."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Then I'm a good official too! Why don't you believe me?"

Shui Ling'er's beautiful eyes flashed with disdain, and she scoffed, "You eat like a pig, wasting so much of the people's blood and sweat. If you're a good official, that's a joke!"

Zhu Chuanzong's face flushed red. Thinking carefully about the officials he had seen, those officials who were ruddy-faced and obese, no one would believe they were good officials. What she said seemed to make sense.

Zhu Chuanzong thought for a while before sighing, "Your method of identifying corrupt officials does have some merit. However, I'm naturally quite fat, which is rather impolite. Once I help you investigate Li Dongchang's case, you'll know whether I'm a good official or not."

Shui Ling'er said, "Alright, but let me ask you, how is my master, the one who was arrested at the Censorate that day?"

Her voice was somewhat unusual, her concern evident.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "She's badly injured. I found a place to treat her; whether she survives depends on fate!"

Shui Ling'er exclaimed with delight, "Master isn't dead? I want to see her. Please? Please grant my request!"

Shui Ling'er suddenly revealed a pleading tone, her voice gentle, captivating Zhu Chuanzong, who almost agreed. Fortunately, he remembered that her master was recuperating at his home; going to see her would be inconvenient. Besides, how could he explain turning back halfway?

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Have you forgotten the important matter? The imperial envoy sent by the Emperor set off this morning. I was delayed because I wanted to see you. Only if we give him the relevant evidence before the governor arrives can he solve the case. If we wait until he arrives, it will be even more difficult to collect evidence. Isn't that right?"

Shui Ling'er said, "Can you really help with the investigation? Will the imperial envoy listen to you? Even if he's not a corrupt official, would he dare to risk offending some high-ranking officials to investigate?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Of course, as long as we can get the evidence, I guarantee the imperial envoy will stand up for Li Dongchang. The Emperor was furious when he heard about this and is determined to find out the truth. Do you think the only honest official in the court is the one you mentioned, Lord Huang?"

Shui Ling'er said, "Okay, then I'll take you to find the evidence."

She silently prayed to the heavens, thinking, "Master, I'll go take care of the important matter first. If you knew, you would let me do the same."

Shui Ling'er stayed at an inn, and after tidying up, the group set off together.

Looking at the four lackeys, Shui Ling'er said to Zhu Chuanzong, "Your four subordinates are so rustic, they really suit you!"

Zhu Chuanzong told the four to come and greet her. After greeting her, the four hid to the side, not daring to say a word. This was Zhu Chuanzong's instruction; he was afraid they wouldn't reveal any flaws.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "They used to be poor commoners. I brought them here specifically for this mission. Sending them to gather information will definitely go unnoticed. As the saying goes, 'No matter how clean an official is, how can he fight against cunning clerks?' These petty clerks serving the officials are familiar with the law, and they can do bad things in a seemingly respectable way. Officials can't do anything about them. This time, the case involves a small county official, but he has the provincial governor backing him, and who knows how many people familiar with the law are helping him behind the scenes! We must get solid evidence..." "We need solid evidence. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to overturn this case!"

Shui Ling'er said, "Don't worry. We will definitely find the evidence. There are so many people on the list of those who embezzled disaster relief funds, it won't be difficult to find evidence and witnesses, will it?"

Zhu Chuanzong stared at Shui Ling'er's pretty face and laughed, "If only it were that simple."

Shui Ling'er said, "Just you wait and see."

The group hired a carriage to travel on the road. Because Zhu Chuanzong had impersonated a minor official from the Censorate named Zhu Tong and become fat, he not only had difficulty moving around, but also felt extremely uncomfortable from being fat for so long.

At first, Zhu Chuanzong was attracted by Shui Ling'er's beauty and tried to amuse her, but later, after a long time in the carriage, his back ached, and he became restless and uncomfortable. Especially at noon, he was drenched in sweat, which was extremely painful.

Zhu Chuanzong was not only uncomfortable, but Shui Ling'er also scolded him, "You officials are so used to enjoying life that you find even riding in a carriage a hardship. For ordinary people, let alone riding in a sedan chair, even riding a horse is considered a luxury; they usually have to walk. If that were the case, wouldn't you be exhausted to death?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Walking is fine, but this up-and-down swaying is so bumpy, my bones feel like they're going to fall apart! It's so uncomfortable!"

Shui Ling'er rolled her eyes at him and ignored him, thinking, "This fat man is obviously a pampered official. How could he know the suffering of the common people? Would he investigate a case for Lord Li? Could it be that he wants to use me to lure out other believers?"

Zhu Chuanzong thought, "Miss Shui has a prejudice against me. Although it's good to travel a thousand miles together and have a beautiful woman by my side, this kind of sarcastic remark is not interesting."

He was used to being pampered by the beauties in the Zhu family and couldn't stand the slightest grievance.

Each lost in their own thoughts, they traveled for several days. Zhu Chuanzong almost revealed his true identity several times, but he was afraid of frightening Shui Ling'er. Finally, the group arrived at Wugu County, the very edge of Ningzhi Province.

Upon reaching the border of Ningzhi Province, the weather cooled down, and Zhu Chuanzong's mind cleared. He sensed something was amiss, noticing constables along the way, questioning any strangers they encountered.

Zhu Chuanzong had forged official documents for Zhu Tong at the Censorate, identifying him as a sixth-rank clerk. However, lacking experience, he hadn't forged any other identification. Just then, two constables approached, scrutinizing them and shouting, "What are you doing here? Show us your identification documents!"

Zhu Chuanzong thought, "Oh no! Now I have to reveal my identity. It will be troublesome from now on. If I don't, I'll probably be taken to the government office. This is going to be difficult. " Then Shui Ling'er handed over a card, saying, "Take a look!"

The constable looked at it and said, "Oh, it's from Jia Mi Tang. What? Is Jia Mi Tang short of people? Sending a young lady instead? Where are these people's identifications?"

Shui Ling'er handed over some loose silver and smiled, "These are my steward and four servants. They don't need any identifications. Please forgive them, brothers! We'll be happy to help them if we need anything in the future!"

The constable immediately beamed and said, "My name is Zhao Xiong. What, are you going to do business here? You're quite clever, knowing where there's a famine and going there to do business. You can come to me anytime you need anything." He

then handed over a business card with his position and address on it.

Shui Ling'er handed over the business card, which Zhu Chuanzong put away. She then exchanged pleasantries with the constable. Zhu Chuanzong took the business card and put it in his pocket. The constable named Zhao Xiong chatted and laughed with Shui Ling'er for a while before leaving.

After the constables left, Shui Ling'er glanced at Zhu Chuanzong with disdain and said, "You're doing a good job as a government official in the capital, aren't you? You don't understand social etiquette at all. You've learned a lot this time, haven't you?"

Zhu Chuanzong replied, "Who says I don't understand? I know everything from astronomy to geography, I know a lot!"

Shui Ling'er said, "Then why don't you have any other identification besides your official letter?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I...you peeked into my package? Otherwise, how would you know I didn't have any?"

After traveling together for several days, Shui Ling'er had already figured out Zhu Chuanzong's background. From his conversation, she noticed that he seemed to have a vague understanding of worldly affairs. She thought to herself, "This guy comes from an official family, but he's all good intentions and doesn't seem to know much about society. It seems he's not lying to me; he's probably just a bookworm. Only someone like him would be so serious and stubborn."

Shui Ling'er said, "You're really rude. Judging from your expression, I guessed you didn't bring your identification. Is that not allowed? Why are you accusing an innocent person?"

Zhu Chuanzong scratched his head and said, "I'm sorry, it was my fault. Miss Shui, you're so clever."

Shui Ling'er rolled her eyes at him and said, "Let's go, you idiot."

Zhu Chuanzong asked, "Where to?"

Shui Ling'er said, "To find a friend and ask what happened. Haven't you noticed how much more diligent the constables are? In the past, they only checked people's identities during festivals when they wanted to get more money. Today is unusual; we need to find out the truth."

Zhu Chuanzong thought it made sense and followed her.

The group walked and twisted their way until they arrived at a house with a dilapidated door. Shui Ling'er knocked and called out, "Brother Han, Auntie, are you home?"

The door opened easily, and the group went into the courtyard, where there were three old, run-down thatched huts. At that moment, the door opened, and an elderly woman greeted them, "Who is it?"

Seeing Shui Ling'er immediately, she said happily, "Miss Shui! What brings you here? Come in, have a seat. Are these your friends?"

Shui Ling'er smiled and said, "Yes, Auntie, please don't be so polite." She helped Auntie Han inside.

Inside, there was a kang (a heated brick bed) covered with straw mats. There were no stools, so the group sat on the edge of the kang. Zhu

Chuanzong had never been in such a simple environment before. Although he didn't say anything, he found the hard surface of the kang uncomfortable. He seemed quite comfortable with the four servants. Zhang Laowu and Qian Laoliu busied themselves fetching water for Aunt Han, while Wang Daniu and Zhao Laosi stayed with Zhu Chuanzong.

A little while later, the water was brought up, and Aunt Han filled a bowl for Zhu Chuanzong. Suddenly, they heard a knock at the door, followed by a loud shout from a burly man: "These officials are going too far! They'll all die a horrible death sooner or later!"

Aunt Han quickly went to greet them, saying, "Hu'er, look who's here!"

Han Hu'er entered and saw Shui Ling'er, exclaiming happily, "Miss Shui, my benefactor! What brings you here?"

Shui Ling'er smiled and said, "Don't call me 'Miss' or 'benefactor.' I've already said we're all equal. There are no outsiders here. Just call me by my name. "

Han Hu'er chuckled憨厚ly and said, "I can't bring myself to call them that." He then addressed

Zhu Chuanzong and the others, "Are these all your friends? Hello everyone, Han Hu'er greets you."

Zhu Chuanzong and his four servants also greeted him. Zhu Chuanzong noticed that although this man looked rough, his speech wasn't particularly rude. He thought to himself, "Is this also a follower of the Laozi Sect? Why is Miss Shui so gentle to everyone else, but so fierce to me? It's really strange."

Shui Ling'er said, "Brother Han, I heard you were angry and cursing earlier. I wonder what happened?"

Han Hu'er sat down, and his mother handed him a ladle of water. Han Hu'er drank it all in one gulp and said, "Today I went to deliver the grain. Those bastards in the government office were simply infuriating. Countless farmers came from hundreds of miles away to deliver their grain early this morning, but they didn't arrive until noon. And that's not all. Not only did they deduct from the amount and demand extra, but they also beat, insulted, or tried to make things difficult for me and extort me. They did everything they could." "I live on the outskirts of the city, so I have some connections with those yamen runners, which is fine, but it's the people in the remote areas who suffer the most."

Shui Ling'er sighed, "It's the same every year, what can the people do? They're just at the mercy of others!"

Zhu Chuanzong, hearing this, asked curiously, "Are you talking about the grain requisition? This year, Wugu County has a bumper harvest, but other areas in Ningzhi Province are suffering from disasters and need to transport large quantities of grain. The imperial court urgently needs grain, shouldn't the Wugu County government be rushing to collect the grain and even raising prices to encourage farmers to sell?"

Han Hu'er sized up Zhu Chuanzong and said, "Those corrupt officials don't care about the lives of the people! They even exploit people when they're paying taxes! It's said that grain prices have gone up, but what's paid to the imperial court is tax, so they only buy at lower prices, never at higher prices. And even so, they still don't collect your grain properly, picking and choosing, insulting and making things difficult for you in every way!"

Zhu Chuanzong was even more puzzled and said, "The people paying grain is a good thing, how can they make things difficult for them? I don't believe it."

Han Hu'er had never seen anyone like this before and was puzzled. Shui Ling'er said, "Brother Han, don't mind him. He's a foreigner, not from our Great Liang Kingdom. Tell me, why is the county so heavily guarded, checking all the passing travelers? Has something happened?" Han

Hu'er said, "I heard that an imperial envoy is coming from the capital, so naturally, security is tight for his safety."

He paused, then said to Zhu Chuanzong, "Brother, may I ask what country you are from?"

Shui Ling'er chuckled, and the earthen house suddenly brightened up. Everyone was stunned.

Shui Ling'er said, "Brother Han, you're so honest. I was just mocking him! He's a genuine Liang Kingdom person."

Han Hu'er chuckled sheepishly, "I knew it! I've seen Xiongnu people, green eyes, they're different from us. There are no foreigners like us! I'm so stupid."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Am I really that ignorant?" "I'd like to see this for myself," said Han Hu'er. "Brother Han, are you still collecting grain tomorrow? Would you take me to see?"

Han Hu'er replied, "Of course! They'll be causing trouble for half a month before they calm down!"

That evening, the group stayed at Han Hu'er's house.

Han's mother cooked sorghum rice and stewed potatoes and green beans. Wang Daniu and his four servants ate with relish, but Zhu Chuanzong, who had never eaten coarse grains before, found them difficult to swallow. The sorghum rice got stuck in his throat, making it hard to eat. Seeing that Shui Ling'er ate with gusto and didn't find it unpalatable, and knowing that no one else here thought coarse grains were bad, he couldn't very well say he wouldn't eat and would go outside to eat. Being overweight, his stomach digested quickly, and even though he was really hungry, he forced himself to eat a bowl

. Zhu Chuanzong, Wang Daniu, Han Huer, and three other burly men slept on a large kang (heated brick bed), while Aunt Han and Shui Ling'er lived in another room.

Zhu Chuanzong found the hard, earthen kang uncomfortable, and the sweat and snoring of the other men made it even harder for him to sleep.

His back ached, and he hadn't slept all night. Finally, dawn broke, and he thought, "I must stay at the inn tomorrow night. These people are so poor; I really admire them. How can they live in such a place and not care?"

Shui Ling'er and Aunt Han got up to light the fire and cook. Zhu Chuanzong got up too. Seeing him, Shui Ling'er smiled and said, "Why are you up so early? Sleep a little longer. I'll wake you up when it's time to eat."

Zhu Chuanzong was flattered by her gentle voice and said, "Since you're awake, get up. I'll help you start the fire!"

Shui Ling'er smiled and said, "You must have had a bad night's sleep!" "

Zhu Chuanzong said, 'Oh, what are you saying?'

Then he imitated Shui Ling'er, putting firewood into the stove.

Starting a fire seemed simple, but once Zhu Chuanzong got going, it became troublesome. The firewood was large and had to be added slowly to maintain a moderate fire. However, he was impatient and put it all in at once, making the fire too strong. Shui Ling'er scolded him, and he finally understood. But after the firewood burned out, he forgot to add more, and soon the fire broke out, almost setting the house on fire.

Wang Daniu and the others were startled, put out the fire, and helped with the work.

Aunt Han said, 'Young master, you're clearly from a wealthy family. You've never done any work before, but that's not your fault. You're such a distinguished guest; your presence is an honor for us. Please don't be so polite; you don't need to help us.'

Shui Ling'er said, 'Don't cause us any trouble. Just be your master!'"

Zhu Chuanzong suddenly felt utterly useless and extremely embarrassed. After finally finishing his meal, Zhu Chuanzong said, "Brother Han, let's go to the grain depot to check on the grain collection!"

Han Hu'er replied, "What's the point of going so early? The people at the grain depot usually don't start work until the afternoon! Other departments in the government, like the household registration department and the land department, work all morning and then go drinking and gambling in the afternoon. Only the grain depot, because it only collects grain twice a year, in spring and autumn, is busy for a few days, and they don't work at other times. So they're used to being lazy, and even when they're busy, they only work in the afternoon, just going through the motions, and go home before 3 pm."

Zhu Chuanzong asked in surprise, "That's impossible, the grain hasn't been collected yet... " "What should we do?"

Han Hu'er's eyes widened, as if to say, "You really are a foreigner!" He said, "What good will it do to the people who owe grain? Once the grain due date is over, the county magistrate will lead all the officials from the household registration, granary, and grain warehouse, along with the three shifts of constables, to the countryside to collect the grain. If the families who owe grain don't pay the full amount and the fine, they will be taken away and beaten. Who wants to be beaten? They'd rather borrow money than not pay the grain!"

Zhu Chuanzong muttered, "I've never heard of such a thing. The people pay grain for the good of the country, and that grain is what feeds the officials. The people are the government's bread and butter. They come to pay taxes voluntarily, and they're treated like this? I don't believe it."

Han Hu'er was bewildered, staring at Zhu Chuanzong.

Seeing that Zhu Chuanzong was very stubborn, Han Hu'er had no choice but to take him there.

The group arrived at the grain warehouse. The gate wasn't open yet, but it was already packed with people. Many farmers had their families with them, some children were running around, and adults were shouting. The scene was chaotic.

It was well past the designated working hours, and Zhu Chuanzong saw that the gate still showed no signs of opening. There were thousands of people waiting to deliver their grain, some chatting and others cursing quietly.

Zhu Chuanzong overheard several farmers nearby gossiping. One farmer said, "These officials are really something. They don't even come to work this early in the morning. What do you think they're doing? If it were me, I wouldn't feel right if I didn't get up and

do some work in the morning." Another farmer said, "What do you know? Those officials don't sleep at night and don't get up in the morning. Heh heh, they go to brothels at night. Unlike us, stuck with our haggard wives, it's no fun at all."

One farmer said, "Yes, yes, these upper-class people all have multiple wives. Do you think they have to think for half a day about where to sleep at night?"

The others nodded in agreement, saying, "They really do have to think for half a day."

One person smacked his lips and said, "Those officials are really something. If I had two wives, I'd be tormented to death. How can they manage with so many wives?"

Another person sneered, "That's why they can become officials, and you can only be a commoner."

Zhu Chuanzong saw these people laughing and joking, their conversation amusing, quite similar to that of Zhao Laosi and his friends, and couldn't help but smile wryly.

Chapter Four: The Enraged Killing of the Grain Official

Zhu Chuanzong wandered around, waiting for the grain depot to open. He listened to the farmers chatting, noticing their optimism and kind hearts despite a year of toil in the fields. He thought, "If I were as miserable as them, suffering so much, I would have quit long ago."

After noon, the officials finally arrived leisurely. The farmers' anger vanished, replaced by fawning smiles: "Gentlemen, you've finally arrived! It must be tiring in this heat!"

The officials, whips in hand, lashed out, shouting, "What are you pushing for? Make way! I need to open the door. How can I open it if you're all crowding like this?"

A whip accidentally struck someone, who winced but dodged, not daring to utter a sound.

Finally, the door opened, and the grain collection area was immediately packed with people.

Some impatient farmers shouted, "Officers, hurry up! We live far away, and we need to get back on our way after paying our grain tax!"

The officers didn't even glance at them, continuing their slow pace. Zhu Chuanzong saw all this and, his face flushed with anger, stepped forward and said, "You people, you don't come to work on time, and when you do, you don't get to work! These farmers have come from so far away, don't you feel sorry for them? Do you have any conscience?"

The officer was initially stunned, but when he realized that although Zhu Chuanzong's clothes were expensive, he looked like a rich young man, he flew into a rage and shouted, "Brothers, which poor brat is this who's asking for trouble? Teach him a lesson!"

Immediately, several constables arrived, ready to beat Zhu Chuanzong. Wang Daniu's four servants, seeing the situation was getting out of hand, shouted, "Don't hit our young master!"

They rushed forward to help. Seeing that he had his servants with him, the constables waved their hands, and a group of constables immediately appeared.

Seeing that a fight was about to break out, Han Hu'er and Shui Ling'er rushed over from the crowd. Han Hu'er

said to the official-looking man, "Sir, my brother is young and doesn't know any better, please be lenient with him." Then he whispered in the man's ear, "He's a relative of mine, from the capital. He's just a young man! He's never seen the world before, you don't need to bother with him."

Shui Ling'er quickly handed over two taels of silver. Upon seeing the silver, and seeing that Zhu Chuanzong was a big fat man, clearly from a wealthy family, the man figured that if things escalated, he might not gain anything, so he was happy to go along with it. He accepted the money out of courtesy, saying, "So what if he's from the capital? There's a saying: even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. If he dares to cause trouble in the grain depot, he'll be in legal trouble."

Han Hu'er laughed, "Yes, yes. Please be understanding, he's just a child..."

The man raised an eyebrow and said, "With you, Brother Han, pleading for him, I'll give you face. We've been neighbors for years, we see each other all the time, what can I do? Keep an eye on him, if you want to stand up for him, this isn't the place for him to run wild."

Han Hu'er was a petty thug in the county, and the officials gave him some face.

Shui Ling'er, already tugging at Zhu Chuanzong's sleeve, advised him, "Don't make a scene, it's not a big deal. Making a scene won't do you any good, it'll only ruin things."

Zhu Chuanzong thought, "A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan."

Although he was furious, he said nothing more.

The onlookers didn't seem to appreciate Zhu Chuanzong's efforts; once the show was over, they dispersed.

The officials began collecting grain, and the scene became lively.

Seeing Zhu Chuanzong still looking indignant, Shui Ling'er thought, "He doesn't act like an official at all!"

But fearing he hadn't calmed down, she went to persuade him.

Wang Daniu, disappointed that a fight hadn't broken out, muttered, "These scoundrels, I've wanted to teach them a lesson for a long time. If they dared to hit the young master, they'd be in big trouble." Zhang Laowu

chimed in, "Yes, it would be so satisfying if a fight broke out! I've never taught an official a lesson before! And we wouldn't be afraid of going to jail, how exhilarating!" Qian

Laoliu, always ready to argue, said, "You can fight if you want, but you have to listen to the young master. The young master has to listen to the court." Zhao Laosi

and the other two, being more shrewd, said, "The young master is going to do something big, you just wait and see!"

The four of them whispered amongst themselves. At this moment, Shui Ling'er, seeing Zhu Chuanzong still angry, then... Yanran smiled and said, "If you can't tolerate this little thing, there will be something even more infuriating later! Alright! Don't stoop to their level. We'll deal with these bad guys sooner or later. But not now."

Seeing Shui Ling'er's unusual gentleness, Zhu Chuanzong became arrogant and said, "They've gone too far! I can't stand it anymore! I'm going to teach them a lesson!"

Shui Ling'er took his arm and said, "Alright! For my sake, just swallow your anger for now!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "No. It's not because they offended me, but because I can't stand them bullying ordinary people. I can't forgive them. These bastards are really something else."

Shui Ling'er was taken aback, thinking, "If only I could teach these scoundrels a lesson! It's a pity his official rank is so low."

Then, remembering the important matter, she glared at him and said, "You pig-head, aren't you going to listen to me? Then I won't talk to you anymore."

Zhu Chuanzong had originally intended to be patient for the time being, but seeing how kind Shui Ling'er was to him and how gently she comforted him, he was drawn to her gentleness, so his words were somewhat deliberate. Seeing that she was truly angry, he dared not say anything more. He thought to himself, "She's gentle one moment and fierce the next, making her hard to understand. If it were my sister, she wouldn't be impatient; she would only be extra gentle with me."

At this time, the people lined up to deliver their grain. The clerks in the grain warehouse collected the grain according to the register. They were careless, grabbing a handful of grain at random, saying it was too damp and would weigh down the scales, and immediately giving the farmers a discount; when it came to weighing, the warehouse officials and scale handlers would cheat on the weighing instruments again, using an iron weight to weigh down the bottom, which was another discount.

The farmers who complained were scolded and beaten. And that wasn't all; some officials yelled and harassed women, doing whatever they pleased.

Zhu Chuanzong witnessed this and was furious. He heard an honest old man behind him sigh, "Paying taxes every year is like passing through the gates of hell!"

Zhu Chuanzong asked, "Old man, do they all act like this every year?"

The old man sighed, "Indeed! I saw you were so indignant just now, standing up for justice. You must be from a wealthy family! Of course you've never seen anything like this! Alas, we farmers are destined to suffer! The whole family pushes and carries the grain, finally managing to get it to the designated place. First, we have to queue, then we're scolded and beaten. After paying the grain, we're still exploited. Every year we have to bring extra grain, fearing that after all the deductions, we watch helplessly as the grain is poured into the official granaries, while the ledger shows arrears..." "A record of what happened. If that's the case, it'll be terrible!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Old man, you speak eloquently, you must have read books, right? What should be done about the grain arrears?"

The old man said, "I only know a few words. Grain arrears must be paid at the designated place within the time limit specified in the notice. After the deadline, clerks and runners will come to the countryside to collect the tax. After all the harassment and trouble, it gets even worse. When they go to the countryside, they eat and drink well, steal and rob, making extra money. If someone still can't pay the arrears after they come to collect the tax, they will be arrested and taken to the yamen, beaten with a cane, and made to stand in the cangue. Who can stand that?"

Zhu Chuanzong's face turned red with anger. What he saw was already infuriating, but the old man said there were even worse things. He walked up to Shui Ling'er and said, "These bastards are so lawless, isn't anyone going to do anything about it? Isn't anyone going to report them? Who set the rule for collecting grain at noon? Putting a weight on the scale, isn't that illegal?"

Shui Ling'er sneered, "Report? How? A few years ago, a scholar saw injustice and went to the provincial capital to file a complaint. Everyone was happy to hear this and pooled their money to send him all the way to the provincial capital to file his complaint. But the provincial capital accused him of illegal fundraising, inciting a disturbance, disrupting social order, and even endangering national security. As a result, he not only lost his scholar's degree but was also imprisoned for two years for the crime of extortion, and was almost killed several times..." He

thought to himself, "If it weren't for our Taishang Laojun Sect secretly protecting Brother Li Zhi, he would have lost his life long ago."

Zhu Chuanzong could no longer hold back and gritted his teeth, saying, "I don't care anymore, I want to stand up for the people."

Shui Ling'er whispered angrily in Zhu Chuanzong's ear, "What are you going to stand up for? What wrong has this county magistrate done?" "Punish him? Even according to the law, this is a minor offense. What can you do to him? Even if you fine him and give him a warning, won't he still take his anger out on the common people later? Let's get down to business first! Let's get on the road. Didn't you see that the whole province is under martial law, just to guard against an imperial envoy traveling incognito?"

Zhu Chuanzong sneered, "You underestimate me. Today I'm going to break this rule of collecting grain at noon, with the iron weight at the bottom."

Zhu Chuanzong laughed loudly, then shouted, "Men, you follow..." "I'll handle this."

Leading Wang Daniu and his three companions, he arrived at the grain collection point, kicked over the weighing scales, and roared, "Tie up these bastards!"

The yamen runners and clerks were initially stunned. Seeing the four burly men pounce like wolves, chopping off the hands of several grain warehouse clerks and tying them up with the ropes used for carrying grain, they finally realized what was happening. They grabbed knives and guns, shouting, "Rebellion! You've all gone mad, daring to cause trouble in the national granary!"

Zhu Chuanzong, seeing them about to pounce, merely sneered.

Wang Daniu shouted, "Our master is an imperial envoy sent by the court! You stupid insects, kneel down!"

At the same time, he produced Zhu Tong's official documents and sixth-rank seal.

The yamen runners and clerks were immediately dumbfounded. Zhu Chuanzong then slowly said, “You neglected the people during the midday grain collection, causing the nation’s most important tax to be delayed. Do you know how many people in various places have starved to death because of this? The iron weight is pressing down on us; not delivering grain means we’re already in debt. Your embezzlement of national taxes is intolerable under the law. Shouldn’t you villains be arrested?”

One of the arrested officials, possibly the leader, shouted, “Even an imperial envoy cannot interfere with the important task of collecting grain. We’ve done everything according to established rules; what’s wrong with that? Go and fetch the county magistrate!”

Zhu Chuanzong said, “Fine, I’ll see how long you can keep up this stubbornness.” He ordered, “

Slap him! ”

Wang Daniu obeyed and slapped the man across the face, causing him to bleed from the nose and mouth.

The officials, while sending someone to report to County Magistrate Zhang Zhancang, also went forward to fawn over him. These men were all seasoned officials; though minor clerks, they were adept at flattery. They invited Zhu Chuanzong to sit inside, but he refused. They then brought a stool from the grain collection office and offered it to him, serving him tea and water with great care.

A short while later, Magistrate Zhang Zhancang arrived. Upon seeing Zhu Chuanzong's official letter, he knelt to pay his respects, his face beaming, and invited Zhu Chuanzong to the county office.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I was ordered by Imperial Envoy Zhu Chuanzong to handle everything, and I happened to witness the grain officials defrauding the people. Not only did they not work according to the nationally stipulated hours, but they also used iron weights to cheat the people out of their hard-earned money. Tell me, what should their punishment be?"

Zhang Zhancang laughed, "Your Excellency has keen insight. You have only just arrived in our county and are already working for the people; it is truly admirable. Since the grain officials have made a mistake, let them correct it. Your Excellency has already punished them; they have learned their lesson and will certainly not dare to do it again."

The minor clerks echoed his sentiments.

Zhu Chuanzong sneered, "Are you just going to let this go? Where is the granary manager?"

Someone said, "Sir, the man you slapped is him."

Zhu Chuanzong mocked, "Oh? Looks like you didn't hit the wrong person."

He then said, "Remove this man from his post, reduce him to a commoner, and take him to jail for further interrogation."

The granary official was stunned. Losing his job was the biggest loss besides losing his life. How could he tolerate that? Everyone else was also stunned.

The granary official quickly recovered and shouted, "You dog of an official, what kind of imperial envoy are you? Even if I made a mistake, it doesn't warrant losing my position. I used a weight to take the grain from the people, but at worst I'll pay compensation. How dare you break the law and punish people arbitrarily? According to the laws of Daliang, this is illegal imposition of punishment."

Zhang Zhancang hurriedly pretended to shout at the man, then said to Zhu Chuanzong, "Sir, this young man has always had a bad temper. Please be lenient with him for my sake. Let's talk about it in the yamen." "It's just a few extra pounds of grain! It's not a big deal. It's a trivial matter, Your Excellency shouldn't be angry. Getting angry with someone like this would only tarnish your reputation."

Zhu Chuanzong retorted angrily, "A trivial matter? If this is a trivial matter, then what is a big matter! Embezzling a few pounds of grain from one person, in a county with twenty or thirty thousand people, that's tens of thousands of pounds of grain embezzled. Little by little, it adds up to a capital offense!"

His anger was uncontrollable; he knew that if this grain official wasn't severely punished, it wouldn't deter corrupt officials and would also discourage the people.

Zhu Chuanzong remained expressionless, but he had made up his mind. He said, "Men, kill this man!" Before Zhu Chuanzong said this, everyone, including Shui Ling'er, thought that Zhu Chuanzong couldn't do anything to these corrupt officials; he would just beat them a few times and curse them to vent his anger. Who would have thought he would dare to kill someone? Even if a real imperial envoy or governor came, he wouldn't dare to kill someone just for collecting a few extra pounds of grain.

Since following Zhu Chuanzong, Wang Daniu had been determined to obey him. He was straightforward and honest. Hearing Zhu Chuanzong's order, he didn't hesitate. He took a sword from a yamen runner and killed the grain official with one stroke.

Blood splattered everywhere, a gruesome sight. Everyone was stunned, and two minor officials from the grain warehouse even fainted from fright.

Zhang Zhancang had served as the county magistrate of Wugu County for three years. He had previously worked as a minor official and knew that everyone in the officialdom was a two-faced person who would always do something behind someone's back, using underhanded tricks. Never having seen such a ruthless person, they trembled with fear, unable to utter a word.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "As the magistrate of a county, with such a thing happening in the grain depot, you can't escape punishment either. I'll deal with you later. Let's go to the county government office first. Let the grain depot continue collecting grain; don't delay the imperial court's grain collection plan. If I find out about your illegal activities in Wugu County, I won't spare you either."

He then led his four servants, along with Shui Ling'er and Han Hu'er, to the county government office.

Only then did the people realize what was happening, and they cheered with joy.

Upon arriving at the Wugu County government office, they saw that it was magnificent and imposing, a stark contrast to the other government offices Zhu Chuanzong had visited before. Even other government offices, though grand in scale, were not as magnificent as this.

Zhang Zhancang, having recovered from his shock, thought, "This is just a minor official sent by the Imperial Envoy to scout ahead. If the Imperial Envoy himself comes, wouldn't it be even more formidable? I must be careful in dealing with him, and then report to the court to punish this brat for his arbitrary use of torture. How can a grain official be beaten to death on the spot for collecting a few extra pounds of grain? But perhaps this is just the Imperial Envoy's way of making money! Sending a tough guy to intimidate him first, so he can easily collect the money? My God, I hope that's the case. I'll accept the extra blood and sweat, otherwise, if a real devil comes along, it'll be the end of me."

Those who can become officials are all extremely intelligent people; even a seventh-rank county magistrate is not easy to become. Seeing Zhu Chuanzong's incredulous expression upon seeing the yamen, he asked, "Sir, what do you think of my yamen?"

Zhu Chuanzong replied, "It's quite imposing. How did you manage to afford to build it?"

Zhang Zhancang felt a surge of pride, and his mind became even clearer. He recalled that he had recently made connections with a relative named Zhang Daming, who was an official in the capital and the advisor to Wang Ren, the Left Censor-in-Chief. He had heard that Zhang Daming was a favorite of the Censor-in-Chief. Zhu Tong, who was in front of him, was also from the Censorate, so perhaps they had some connection. Just as he was pondering how to cultivate a relationship, Zhu Chuanzong asked him a question, so he said, "Lord Zhu, rest assured, I absolutely did not ask for money from above, nor did I obtain it by exploiting the people. I fined those in the county for gambling and prostitution, which both maintained order and brought in money. This money was used to build a new government office, giving our court a fresh new look, thus reflecting the majesty of our court!"

Zhu Chuanzong wanted to say, "What's the use of building such a nice government office if the people are so poor? Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?"

But he held back, because what Zhang Zhancang said was indeed reasonable; maintaining the dignity of the court was indeed the duty of all officials. The Emperor had specifically addressed this issue. He could only casually say, "You are a capable official who thinks of the court!"

In previous dynasties, there was a saying that "officials don't build nice government offices." Only newly built government offices were considered respectable. After a decade or two, the yamen buildings would lose their luster and become drab and dilapidated.

This was because newly built yamen buildings could collect special taxes, securing dedicated funds. However, future maintenance costs were uncertain. Repairs required requests to higher authorities to allocate special funds from annual tax revenue, which gave superiors the impression of extravagance and reduced national revenue, negatively impacting performance evaluations.

Furthermore, levying special taxes locally would alienate local gentry and wealthy landowners. These landowners were keen on building temples dedicated to Wenchang and Kui Xing to ensure local literary prosperity and their sons' entry into the bureaucracy. Building yamen buildings offered no real benefit to them. Offending

them meant that the "public opinion" manipulated by the local gentry would be detrimental to the prefectural and county officials, ultimately affecting their careers. Another way to cover maintenance costs was for prefectural and county officials to use a portion of their off-the-books bribes as maintenance funds. However, it was painful to use money that could have gone into their own pockets for official business. Besides, the position of prefectural or county official was merely a stepping stone in an official's career; what was the point of polishing that stepping stone too much?

But the current emperor, Emperor Shenwu Mingzong, after more than twenty years on the throne, gradually felt the need to renovate all the government offices to demonstrate the peace and prosperity under his rule. He issued an edict encouraging his officials to find ways to renovate the offices. Thus, building new, luxurious, and imposing government offices became a trend.

Zhang Zhancang was pleased to hear Zhu Chuanzong praise him and said, "You're too kind, sir. This is all within my duty. You are an official of the Censorate, sir. Do you know Zhang Daming? I heard he serves as your advisor in the Censorate."

Although the position of advisor rarely held an official rank, it was important because it was similar to a military strategist.

Zhu Chuanzong felt disgusted when he heard Zhang Zhancang trying to curry favor. He thought, "So this kid is related to Zhang, the advisor who's a favorite of Lord Wang. No wonder someone of his character can become a county magistrate."

Actually, it was unfair to Zhang Zhancang. He had climbed from a minor official to the position of county magistrate entirely through his own sycophancy and flattery. Only after becoming county magistrate did he realize he had a relative he could use, and he was delighted, so he sought ways to offer gifts and establish a connection.

Zhu Chuanzong said calmly, "I don't know the person you're talking about. I never inquire about who's around the officials. As long as one focuses on their duties and considers the court's interests, they will naturally be given important positions. Why bother with roundabout methods?"

Seeing his bureaucratic tone, Zhang Zhancang also said, "Yes, yes. Your Excellency's integrity and uprightness are a model for us to learn from! I've learned a lot."

After arranging Zhu Chuanzong's accommodations, Zhang Zhancang took his leave.

Shui Ling'er finally found a chance to speak to Zhu Chuanzong, saying, "You pig-headed fool, you've gotten yourself into big trouble, do you know that?"

Zhu Chuanzong asked, "What trouble have I gotten myself into?"

Shui Ling'er said, "You killed the official in the grain depot. The Imperial Envoy will definitely blame you. Even if he's not angry, the court will punish you, and you won't be able to protect yourself. You'd better think of a way quickly! If you have any connections, try to smooth things over, and then write a letter to plead guilty. Maybe you can get a lighter punishment."

Zhu Chuanzong laughed loudly, "I haven't done anything wrong, what are you afraid of? Do you think the court will punish me for killing a corrupt official for them? Don't worry, Miss Shui!"

Shui Ling'er sighed, "Now I know you hate evil and are a great official. But someone like you won't hold office for long."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I don't believe it. Do you think..." "Would the court punish an honest official like me? Is there any justice in this world? Just wait and see the court commend me!"

Seeing that she couldn't convince him, Shui Ling'er gave up, thinking, "I'm the one who ruined him. He really is a fool. What will become of him? He doesn't deserve the death penalty, but if he goes to jail, it's so dark and dangerous. I might even lose my life to protect him."

At this moment, Han Hu'er said, "Brother Zhu, you're a high-ranking official! That's truly remarkable! Hehe, seeing you kill that corrupt official was so satisfying!"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "Now you don't underestimate me anymore, do you? So, do you admire me?"

Han Hu'er said, "I admire you wholeheartedly! But if you had killed that corrupt magistrate Zhang as well, that would have been even more satisfying!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "What, is he a big bad guy too?"

Han Hu'er said indignantly, "Of course! If the grain depot didn't give him a share of the loot, would he dare to blatantly exploit the people? Besides, you just praised him. Do you know how such a beautiful government office was built? Don't think this guy is a good person! This government office is really his achievement!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "You know the inside story? Then tell me."

Han Hu'er said, "What inside story? Who here doesn't know? The county government office was built with the blood and sweat of prostitutes, their clients, and gamblers."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "How so?"

Han Hu'er said, "Let me tell you how they crack down on gambling! There's no strict line between gambling and entertainment; whether it's illegal or not is up to the government. People work hard all year, and when they're off work or on holiday, they bring a little something to gamble. The government takes advantage of this, catching these people and fining them." "Originally, the yamen runners' annual bonuses came from this. But the county magistrate, wanting to build a new yamen, set quotas for each runner—they had to pay a certain amount of fines to complete their task. If they paid more, they'd get a bonus!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Wouldn't that cause chaos?"

Han Hu'er said, "Exactly. Once, I was drinking and gambling with some friends, and we got arrested. Because we were well-connected in the county, we didn't pay much. Those friends had always been on good terms with the runners, so they tipped them off and got a reward!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Do you think the common people would agree to that? Would they just obediently pay the fines?"

Han Hu'er said, "What if they didn't pay? Those runners aren't pushovers. It's funny, once a few farmers were gambling and someone reported them. The runners appeared like divine soldiers, and the unlucky farmers obediently surrendered. When they searched for the gambling money, because of the hot weather, the gamblers were all shirtless..." They were only wearing underwear. A lawful body search was conducted; what money could a few farmers possibly have? Only a dozen or so coins in gambling funds were found. "

Zhu Chuanzong said, 'They arrested you for such a small amount of money?'"

Han Hu'er said, "Yes, the constables were very frustrated and began interrogating them: 'How much do you gamble?' The farmers truthfully replied, 'One or two coins, just for fun!' The constables shouted sternly, 'Nonsense! We usually gamble at least ten coins per hand, with wins and losses of tens of taels each time! How can such a large gambling den only gamble with one or two coins? Confess honestly, and you'll receive a lighter sentence.'" Zhu Chuanzong stared in astonishment, "They said that?"

Han Hu'er, assuming he didn't know the odds, said, "Yes! Larger bets mean larger fines, smaller bets mean smaller fines. The constables got angry when they heard the farmers said they were betting so little. The head constable roared, 'Cuff these troublemakers and take them to the yamen!' So, the gamblers, along with several farmers who were watching, were arrested." "The people, tied with ropes, were all taken to the yamen,"

Zhu Chuanzong said. "Even the onlookers were arrested?"

Han Hu'er replied, "Of course. After making their statements at the yamen, each of the gamblers was fined one tael of silver, and the two bystanders, also considered participants in the gambling, were each fined half a tael. Their families were notified that night to come and pay the fines immediately. They would be released once the fines were paid. Ordinary people know that if they are locked up in jail at night, they will definitely be beaten. Either by the yamen runners or by the prisoners. So usually, people come to pay the fines and get their prisoners back at night. To reduce trouble, the head of the yamen runners ordered all the prisoners to be tied to a big tree in the courtyard of the yamen. One farmer even laughed and said, 'I'm lucky today, I didn't get beaten by the yamen runners.' Another farmer even made a face to make everyone laugh."

Zhu Chuanzong sensed something in his words and didn't know what he was going to say, but in his impression, how could the yamen runners be so bad? However, fearing that Han Hu'er would look down on him and think he was naive, he patiently listened to him.

Han Hu'er said, "The constables were rewarded for their successful raid on the gambling den. The weather was hot, and they had a long and arduous journey. That evening, the head constable hosted a banquet to celebrate their victory. But as darkness fell, the mosquitoes swarmed out like a thousand horses. It was a real hardship for the farmers tied up in the courtyard. Seeing food, the mosquitoes multiplied, biting their faces, legs, and bodies. Unable to move their limbs, the outcome was predictable."

Zhu Chuanzong was stunned by this strange story.

Han Hu'er continued, "As for catching thieves and fining them, or even partnering with them to split the loot, that's commonplace. Don't be fooled by the grandeur of the yamen; the common people say it was built by gamblers, stakes by brothel patrons, bricks by thieves, and beams by prostitutes. Don't you think they feel ashamed living in such a building?" ( Chapter 5

, May 15 ) After listening to Han Hu'er's story, Zhu Chuanzong, steeped

in the old-fashioned etiquette , smiled bitterly and said, "My trip to the capital wasn't in vain; I've learned something new today. Such things still happen in the world. Judging from this, this Magistrate Zhang isn't a good person either. If his subordinates are this dissolute, then his other misdeeds must be numerous!" Han Hu'er laughed, "Aren't all officials like that? When you think about it, everyone has their own little drama." Then, realizing he'd included Zhu Chuanzong in the insult, he quickly added, "Of course, honest officials like you, sir, don't count." News of Zhu Chuanzong's punishment of the grain official spread throughout Wugu County. That evening, after dinner, Zhu Chuanzong noticed Wang Daniu beside him looking uneasy, as if he wanted to say something. He asked, "What's wrong? Hurry up..." "Speak!" Wang Daniu said, "You just finished eating, so I can tell you later. Sister Nuanyun specifically instructed me to take good care of you." Zhu Chuanzong laughed and scolded, "You big dummy, you've got some tricks up your sleeve. Just say it quickly! Don't beat around the bush." Wang Daniu said, "There are people outside who want to see you, they're outside the yamen! The yamen runners won't let them in. They say the yamen is a restricted area and commoners can't enter." Zhu Chuanzong said, "Come on, I'll go out and see." At this moment, Shui Ling'er walked in and said, "The common people have brought you a plaque. You see, it's so easy to be a good official. Just do one good deed for the people, and they're incredibly grateful." The group went out of the yamen and saw that there were indeed many commoners gathered outside the gate. Upon seeing Zhu Chuanzong, the yamen runners said, "Sir, the people have brought you a plaque inscribed with 'A Clear Mirror Hangs High.' We accepted it for fear of disturbing your rest, but the people won't leave." Zhu Chuanzong replied, "Officials are meant to serve the people. Is it possible to be as noble as you officials, isolating yourselves from the common folk and ashamed to associate with them? The yamen gates should be open to the people, but some officials have no conscience." With that, he left. The people, with their sharp eyes, recognized him and cheered. Zhu Chuanzong was welcomed and pleased. He chatted with several representatives of the people for a while. One of the old farmers, the same one he had spoken with at the grain depot, said, "Sir, you have gone to great lengths for us people to pay our grain. But there is one more thing we need your help with!" Zhu Chuanzong said, "Please speak, sir." The old man said, "You have seen the scene of the grain delivery. When it's time to collect the grain, the clerks at the household registration office always arrive late and leave early, acting all high and mighty. Just a step away by the gate, people stroll leisurely inside, while outside, it's a sea of people, incredibly crowded. Those at the back can't get through, and those at the front can't get out. To avoid this suffering, many people pay someone with connections to pay on their behalf. Although it costs more money, they can't afford to neglect their farm work. Furthermore..." There are also places where ordinary people are bullied. For example, a few cents are rounded up to a whole coin, and the conversion between silver and coins is never accurate. To avoid being cheated, people ask those with connections to pay for them. Zhu Chuanzong was stunned and said, "I understand. I will definitely petition the court to abolish these malpractices." The old man sighed, "Your Excellency is indeed a good official! But we know that this matter is very difficult to handle. We ordinary people don't have such high hopes. We just hope that Your Excellency can explain things clearly and release Du Kaiyang. He went to the county to complain about these things two years ago. The county refused to accept the case, so Du Kaiyang went to the higher-level government office to appeal. The county sent people to arrest him, put him in shackles in the street as a public spectacle, and imprisoned him for two years. Please, Your Excellency, release him!"

Zhu Chuanzong remained silent for a long time before finally sighing, "Old folks, please go back! I understand the matter."

The people looked at Zhu Chuanzong with hopeful eyes and left.

Zhu Chuanzong felt uneasy. Seeing that Shui Ling'er also seemed lost in thought, he asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Shui Ling'er's eyes were unfocused as she said, "The common people are truly suffering. You are a good official."

Zhu Chuanzong couldn't help but laugh, "Why are you suddenly saying such unrelated things?"

Shui Ling'er said sadly, "Since childhood, I have been determined to serve the people of the world. I have witnessed their suffering since I was a child. Serving the people of the world—these are all teachings my master gave me, and I will never forget them. She taught me the truth of the world. But serving the people is too difficult. Take you, for example! I know you are a good person, and you have a particularly kind heart. Originally, I thought you were chubby and must be like those corrupt officials with bloated minds. But after so many days of getting to know you, I see that you are still a child who hasn't quite grown up..."

Zhu Chuanzong had been listening to her praise him, but... Suddenly seeing her say that last thing, he hurriedly interrupted her, saying, "Who's the child? You always underestimate me."

Seeing his displeasure, Shui Ling'er smiled sweetly and said, "Yes, I was wrong. I'm sorry."

Then, with a hint of sadness, she said, "To tell you the truth, I'm a member of the Taishang Laojun sect. I've never told you, but I didn't mean to deceive you. I thought you knew who I was, and you deliberately deceived me to gain my trust, and then..."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Of course I know! Do you think I don't know? So you say I'm a child?"

Shui Ling'er said in surprise, "You know? Then why are you still with me? Aren't you afraid of being beheaded?"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "Who isn't afraid of losing their head? But what's the big deal about being with you? Although the court has labeled your sect as traitors, as rebels, and will execute the entire family if caught, I know your sect has done many good things. You only oppose corrupt officials, not the court. I think only those corrupt officials..." "I'm afraid of you."

Shui Ling'er said gratefully, "Yes, yes. You're right. But the court hates us to the bone right now, and wants to eradicate our sect. Anyone associated with our sect will lose their head. Why would you risk it? I think you're a good person, so I revealed my identity and didn't want to implicate you."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid. As long as we help Imperial Envoy Zhu Chuanzong investigate the case, ask him to say some good words for your Taishang Laojun Sect, and ask the Emperor to pardon you, isn't that enough?"

Shui Ling'er was surprised and said, "Is it that simple? You keep calling him Imperial Envoy, but who exactly is he? What's his temperament like? What's your relationship with him? Why are you so confident that he'll listen to you?"

Zhu Chuanzong was stunned for a moment before saying, "I'm his savior. Hehe, so he listens to me!"

Shui Ling'er frowned and said, "Not necessarily. Even if you are his savior..." "When it comes to important matters of the court, even he might not share your views or listen to you! I think you should get over the trouble you've caused first! Killing a grain official in public is no small matter."

Zhu Chuanzong took a deep breath and said calmly, "Miss Shui, you always underestimate me. You rely too much on experience! I'm different from others, just you wait and see."

Shui Ling'er nodded and said, "You are, after all, a sixth-rank official. I hope you know what you're doing and don't act impulsively and bring bad consequences upon yourself. Although serving the people is good, I don't want anything to happen to you."

Zhu Chuanzong happily grabbed Shui Ling'er's hand and said, "Why are you so concerned about me? You even told me about your background, afraid I'd lose my head. You like me! Don't you?" Shui

Ling'er was startled, looking at Zhu Chuanzong as if she had seen a monster, then blushed, shook off his hand, and ran away.

Zhu Chuanzong watched Shui Ling'er's departing figure, filled with regret. Thinking to herself, "So she's kind-hearted; her concern for me doesn't mean anything by it."

Zhu Chuanzong actually knew little about love, and therefore acted without much strategy. Despite his extraordinary talent, some things require experience and learning.

Shui Ling'er returned to the room prepared for her, her heart pounding, and lay on the bed, lost in thought. Since growing up, she had dedicated herself to serving the Laozi Sect and the people of the world. Although she had occasionally felt a flutter of the heart when she saw a handsome man, it was always fleeting. But this was the first time she had been so close to a man.

"He's so fat and ugly; how could he be my ideal?"

she thought to herself, then berated herself. "Judging a person by their appearance, not their inner qualities, Shui Ling'er! How could you be like other ordinary women?"

Shui Ling'er recalled that although Zhu Chuanzong was sometimes clumsy in his speech and actions, his sincerity and kindness were rare in this corrupt world.

Shui Ling'er suddenly found Zhu Chuanzong quite endearing. A smile appeared on her lips.

As Shui Ling'er was lost in her sweet thoughts, she suddenly noticed several books on the table. She immediately calmed down and scolded, "Shui Ling'er, you're useless! How many people in the world are suffering! And you're thinking about your personal feelings? How can you face the Holy Church, how can you face your godfather?"

Shui Ling'er recalled her childhood. She was born in a poor mountain village and had a younger brother four years her junior. When she was nine, her father went to the city to repair a bridge, but later news came that he had been killed by falling stones. Her mother went to the city to demand an explanation, but never returned without a trace, and no one knew what had happened. From then on, she and her brother became orphans, raised by a lonely old man in his sixties in the village. Many such elderly people in the countryside were too poor to marry and were left to grow old alone. She and her brother were the old man's only joy.

But when she was twelve, her eight-year-old brother committed suicide. Because they owed the school a hundred coins for tuition, they were forced to drop out, and no one helped them.

That day, her younger brother carried his quilt home from school dozens of miles away. He didn't say anything, only begged her and their father to cook him a meal.

Shui Ling'er felt sorry for her brother, knowing he was heartbroken, so she used the little oil they had left to cook a few dishes. As her brother ate, he said, "Sister, we haven't had a fire lit in the house for days. What will you do?"

That very night, her brother hanged himself. Not long after, her father also died. What did an eight-year-old child know about life? What did he know about death? He longed to study; that was his only wish!

Shui Ling'er had also thought of suicide, but that day she was saved by her adoptive father. He said, "You lost your father, so I will be your father. You lost your brother, but there are many more brothers in the world."

"Yes, there are so many poor people in the world. I can't be selfish and only think about myself. I still have so much to do!"

Thinking of the many poor people who needed her help, they smiled sweetly, just like the sweet smile on her brother's face when he heard he could go to school. Shui Ling'er, with this beautiful dream in her heart and a smile on her lips, fell asleep.

The next morning, Magistrate Zhang Zhancang visited Zhu Chuanzong, bringing some gifts.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Do you know this is bribery? Do you want me to punish you?"

Zhang Zhancang laughed, "This is all customary, an old rule for decades. This is the first time I've heard you say it this way, sir. It's quite novel."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I'll be kind to you today, to broaden your horizons. From now on, all customary practices, such as bribes, welcoming banquets, and welcome-home drinks, are hereby waived. The Imperial Envoy instructed me that if such a thing happens, I can have this official beaten out with sticks. He's here on the Emperor's orders to rectify officialdom. He wants to break down these corrupt practices. Don't you know about his cases in Jianghuai Province?"

Zhang Zhancang thought to himself, "Good heavens, a plague has arrived! I've already reported this situation to Governor Hu tonight. No wonder he's so afraid. The imperial envoy hasn't even arrived yet, and this scout is already so domineering. Governor Hu's worries are not without merit. No wonder the whole province is under martial law; we absolutely cannot afford any mistakes."

Zhang Zhancang was lost in thought. He had originally intended to invite Zhu Chuanzong to the banquet, but seeing that he had refused, he didn't know what to do next. Suddenly, he remembered that Zhang Zhancang only seemed to show a hint of joy when he saw the new government office. He thought, "Aha! This imperial envoy is only interested in getting promoted. He's only happy when there's something good happening and he can achieve political success. This guy is the imperial envoy's lackey; what he likes, the imperial envoy must like too."

He then said, "Sir, when will the imperial envoy arrive? I'd like to be prepared."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "He'll arrive soon. You'll have your chance to curry favor."

Zhang Zhancang said, "Yes, yes. Recently, something good happened in the county. I wonder if you could report it to the Emperor, sir, and make him smile." Zhu Chuanzong said

, "Good thing? It's nothing more than reporting good news and not bad. Why go to such lengths to report 'auspicious omens'? If a stalk of grain has a few extra ears, you call it a good omen." "Auspicious grains"; a few drops of slightly sweet rain are called "sweet dew"; a few rare herbs sprouting from the field ridges are called "lingzhi" (spiritual mushrooms). Then they're all treated like treasures, packed into boxes, and sent by special envoys to higher authorities, pleading for them to be presented to the court, hoping for praise, promotion, and wealth. I've seen this kind of trickery many times. They're truly shameless, doing nothing of substance, just these kinds of things all day long."

Zhang Zhancang blushed, but quickly said, "My lord, you misunderstand. The good deeds I'm talking about are not these."

Zhu Chuanzong sneered, "What kind of achievements are those? Building a weir and calling it a dam, planting a few rows of trees and calling it a forest, digging a pond and calling it a lake—basically, they deceive their superiors but not their subordinates, blowing their conch shells as they please. The most hateful thing is fabricating stories about reclaiming wasteland: cultivated area..." The increase in land reserves is thanks to the government. However, this increase will lead to an increase in land taxes, which in turn will lead to more illicit income for you officials. How could you let such a lucrative opportunity pass you by? You get promoted and rich, while the people suffer misfortune and ruin – what a sin! I heard about these tricks in the capital. But while they work elsewhere, they don't work here.”

Zhang Zhancang broke out in a cold sweat, thinking, “Thank goodness I didn't overreport this year; the clerk said I overreported before. What luck!” He

quickly smiled and said, “Your Excellency is wise. Some officials dare to deceive the court like this; they are truly audacious. However, I am diligent in my duties and do not seek fame or fortune; I would never do such things. What I want to say is indeed…” "What a good thing! The magistrate will surely be pleased to hear this."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Oh? Then I'd like to hear it."

He thought to himself, "I wonder what this wicked official is going to say? Could he really do a good deed? Hmm, perhaps he'll have a change of heart and do something, and then I'll forgive him."

Zhang Zhancang said, "There's a man in the county named Jiang Bai. His elderly mother was very ill, and the doctor said that cutting flesh from her ribs for medicine would cure her. So he did it, but his mother still didn't recover. He then prayed to the gods, vowing that if his mother could recover, he would sacrifice his son. And miraculously, his mother did recover, and he then killed his three-year-old son to appease the gods. Such filial piety is truly unprecedented!"

Zhu Chuanzong was dumbfounded.

It turned out that the Great Liang Kingdom, like other countries throughout history, promoted rites and ethics. One important aspect of this was the commendation of virtuous women, righteous men, filial sons, and virtuous grandsons. When local officials discovered filial sons who cut flesh from their own thighs to heal their parents, virtuous grandsons who diligently served their ancestors, chaste widows who cared for their orphans, or righteous individuals who rid the people of harm, county and prefectural officials were required to promptly report these acts to their superiors. Those with exceptional deeds were reported all the way to the imperial court in the capital. The forms of reward were varied: county officials might personally visit and offer condolences; they might invite the family to a banquet at the county or prefectural government office and then escort them home with flags and drums; or they might erect a memorial archway in front of the family's residence, such as the Archway of Filial Piety, the Archway of Longevity for Mothers, or the Altar of Chastity.

Zhu Chuanzong paused for a moment before asking, "Is this true?"

Although he had heard of such stories before, he had always assumed they were fabrications; he hadn't expected them to be real.

Seeing Zhu Chuanzong's expression, Zhang Zhancang assumed he was pleased and thought, "The Imperial Envoy seems to be a man who loves fame, especially fond of buying his own reputation. It seems my prediction was correct."

He replied, "How could I dare to deceive the Imperial Envoy?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I mean, this man really... killed the child?"

Zhang Zhancang, seeing his strange expression, paused and said, "He performed a sacrifice."

He thought, "This man is so young; I wonder whose backer he has to get this position. Judging by his age, his knowledge is limited. Is there any need to doubt this?"

Zhu Chuanzong said listlessly, "Well done! Well done! I will commend him. You can go out now! I will give you instructions if needed."

Zhu Chuanzong was young and easily angered. He thought, "There are still such fools in this world, killing their own flesh and blood! It's outrageous! What's wrong with this world! Heaven is better!" "There are so many troubles. All sorts of bizarre and strange things happen in the world, it's unimaginable."

Just then, Shui Ling'er arrived, smiling, and asked, "Have you eaten?"

Zhu Chuanzong replied, "No, but I can't eat much."

Shui Ling'er blushed and said, "You...you're still angry about yesterday! It's all my fault, but...I didn't mean to upset you. Who told you to grab someone's hand..."

Zhu Chuanzong, remembering yesterday's events, saw Shui Ling'er's affection and realized she wasn't angry with him anymore. He was overjoyed and smiled, saying, "There are many bad things in the world, but there are also many good things. I said I'm a good person, you shouldn't dislike me!"

Shui Ling'er was stunned, then smiled and said, "You! You really are from a wealthy family, always so self-important. You're so fat, so ugly, no one would like you."

Zhu Chuanzong felt as if cold water had been poured over him, and said... "So you didn't like me after all!"

Shui Ling'er laughed. "It's not that I don't like you, I like you. But it's not the kind of liking you're thinking of. Not just you, I wouldn't like anyone like that. Because I've vowed never to marry. Brother Zhu, you're a very good person, I really think you're a very good person, but my vow will never change. You've seen it yourself, there are many pitiful people in the world, and I want to help them for the rest of my life. Can you understand my feelings?"

Zhu Chuanzong was stunned. "What vow? Do you think I'm fat? I can lose weight!"

Shui Ling'er said, "No, I was just joking. Actually, whether you're fat or thin, can you eat? If you weren't a good person, I wouldn't have said a word to you. Didn't I tell you? When I joined the Holy Church, I swore to help the poor and needy in the world for the rest of my life. There are so many suffering people in the world waiting for us to save them." "Oh! I can't let personal feelings interfere."

Zhu Chuanzong, who never forced anyone, sighed, "What a chivalrous woman! But if the world were at peace, and officials no longer bullied the common people, and everyone could live a peaceful and stable life, would you still be willing to be with me then?"

Shui Ling'er was stunned, and said dreamily, "Brother Zhu, do you think that day will really come?"

Zhu Chuanzong looked at Shui Ling'er's charming appearance and her boundless longing for the beautiful scene he had described. He couldn't help but feel a surge of heroic spirit and said, "That day will come, I swear, it will definitely come. I will let you see that day. When that day comes, you will marry me, okay?"

Shui Ling'er smiled joyfully, which was extremely charming, and said, "Okay, if that day really comes, even if I marry a pig or a dog, I will be willing. I am willing to be shattered to pieces to bring about that day."

Zhu Chuanzong, who had been very excited, felt a pang of sadness upon hearing her words. He thought, "She's incredibly kind and beautiful—a truly wonderful girl. But it seems she doesn't like me. Is it because I'm fat now? Yes! She's not a superficial person who judges by appearances. I must make her fall in love with me slowly. Besides, if she falls in love with a fat man like me, it will show my abilities. She loves my talent. Hmm, I will definitely use my intelligence and wisdom to make her fall in love with me."

Zhu Chuanzong gradually perked up again and began to talk about what had just happened. Magistrate Zhang recounted the story of sacrificing one's son to appease the gods, saying, "Tell me, are there really such cruel fathers in this world? If the gods knew he did this, they would surely strike him with lightning."

Shui Ling'er was also deeply saddened, saying, "I'm not trying to condemn him, but these kinds of things are mostly for profit, for gaining fame or monetary rewards. Families who are commended by the court receive preferential treatment such as tax reductions and exemptions from corvée labor, much like families who have erected chastity arches. Not only do they benefit, but their relatives and clansmen also benefit. Therefore, many tragedies occur, such as when a son is sacrificed to a god within the clan..." A young widow was killed, and the clan, in their quest to obtain a memorial arch for her chastity, went to great lengths to prevent her from remarrying. Foolish acts like cutting flesh to heal a husband or donating liver to save a mother are countless. This Jiang Bai you mentioned is a wealthy man; he did all this simply to gain official position and fame! These people are utterly incomprehensible.”

Zhu Chuanzong said bitterly, “Doesn’t the court know about these things? Those officials who formulate the policies aren’t stupid; why do they encourage these tragedies?”

Shui Ling’er said, “I heard they do this to keep the people ignorant.” "Make the common people stupid and obedient, so they can serve them like slaves and not know how to resist! The comment 'simple and honest people' isn't a compliment to a place! This is the reward for serving like slaves. Our Holy Sect is full of unruly people. But without us unruly people, the lives of the common people would be many times more miserable!"

Zhu Chuanzong sighed, "Yes! I'm going to rescue an unruly person and kill a corrupt official in a moment. I want to set a new standard for the court."

Shui Ling'er exclaimed, "Kill a corrupt official? What are you going to do then?"

Chapter Six: The Imperial Envoy

Zhu Chuanzong led officials from various departments of the yamen to the granary.

The granary was packed with people, who were queuing up to pay their taxes. They had heard that an imperial envoy had come to supervise the grain collection, and now they could pay their taxes without being exploited or mistreated. They all came early, fearing that the officials would change their attitude after the imperial envoy left.

Zhu Chuanzong, accompanied by Zhang Zhancang and the county magistrate, registrar, and other officials, supervised the grain collection. Zhu Chuanzong remained silent with a serious expression, leaving Zhang Zhancang and the others bewildered.

As noon approached, Zhu Chuanzong ate a few simple pieces of bread and that was it. The poor officials, accustomed to lavish meals, could barely stomach such a simple lunch, thinking, "This guy's gone mad! What's he up to? He's not taking advantage of the situation, but instead trying to benefit the common people—it's outrageous!"

In the afternoon, more and more people came to deliver grain. Suddenly, Zhu Chuanzong beckoned to Zhang Laowu, whispered a few words in his ear, and Zhang Laowu shouted, "The Imperial Envoy has ordered that grain collection cease temporarily. Lord Zhu will be holding a trial at the grain depot. Everyone come and see! Those who can't get home late tonight will be provided with food and lodging!"

Hearing this, many people cheered loudly. Farmers from remote areas, who had never seen such a spectacle, were especially excited.

Zhang Zhancang stared in disbelief, stammering, "Sir... what case are you investigating?"

Zhu Chuanzong snorted coldly and said, "You'll find out soon enough." He then

said to Zhang Laowu, "Bring the prisoner up."

Zhang Laowu shouted, "Bring up the prisoner, Du Kaiyang!"

Wang Daniu and Zhao Laosi brought up a ragged man. As soon as the man arrived, he knelt down and cried out, "Sir, I'm innocent! You are a just and upright official, please do justice for the people!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I am Zhu Tong, a sixth-rank clerk in the Censorate. I have been ordered by the Imperial Commissioner, Right Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhu Chuanzong, to handle this case. Tell me your grievances truthfully. If you lie to me, you are deceiving the Emperor, and that will be..." "Beheading!"

Du Kaiyang shouted. "The grain officials oppress the people, withhold weights and line their own pockets. I went to the county yamen to complain, but Magistrate Zhang called me a troublemaker and had me beaten out with sticks."

Zhu Chuanzong shouted, "Zhang Zhancang, is this true?"

Zhang Zhancang was furious, thinking, "You're just a lowly sixth-rank clerk. Although your rank is slightly higher than mine, I'm a seventh-rank magistrate, a local official. In terms of real power, I'm above you. You're just a subordinate of the imperial envoy, acting so recklessly. You're a dog relying on its master's power."

But seeing how ruthless Zhu Chuanzong was, he didn't dare to contradict him and could only smile and say, "Lord Zhu, don't listen to this troublemaker's nonsense. This man is very stubborn..." "He's a scoundrel who once caused a disturbance at the grain depot. He's repeatedly refused to mend his ways, not only showing no restraint but also threatening to report us to the provincial authorities, disrupting national order. Therefore, he's been imprisoned. How can you, sir, take a prisoner's words seriously?"

Du Kaiyang shouted, "You corrupt official, you oppress the people! Am I not allowed to report you to the provincial authorities?"

Zhang Zhancang said, "This... how could that be, sir? In front of so many people, this boy is spouting nonsense. Please, for the sake of the court's reputation, detain this troublemaker."

Zhu Chuanzong sneered, "Since you haven't done anything wrong, why are you afraid of what people say? Today I will settle this case and see if this troublemaker is lying!"

Zhang Zhancang thought, "Damn it. This guy..." "Completely disregarding the rules of officialdom, acting so recklessly, I'm in trouble. However, his disregard for the rules might not be approved by the higher-ups, so I'll have to bear with it for now. Such reckless behavior is making enemies of all officials; if this continues, the court will be thrown into chaos."

Zhang Zhancang laughed, "Your Excellency is discerning; the grain depot has indeed been negligent in its management. This is all due to my usual carelessness and the registrar's lack of attention. We will be more careful in our work in the future. We also welcome suggestions from the people; we will certainly accept them humbly. Lord Zhu, is this acceptable?"

Upon hearing this, the people immediately became happy and began to chatter about all the unreasonable things that had happened before.

Zhu Chuanzong's face darkened. "You make it sound so easy," he said. "Aren't you going to ask about my past crimes? I've already reported everything to the Imperial Envoy, and he ordered me to act on his behalf. Today, I'm going to expose the corrupt officials in the grain depot."

Zhang Zhancang's expression changed drastically. "Lord Zhu," he said, "I'm afraid this isn't in accordance with the rules!"

Zhu Chuanzong shouted, "What's not in accordance with the rules! Du Kaiyang, I ask you, why were you imprisoned?"

Du Kaiyang replied, "Last year, I exposed the grain depot for embezzling grain from the people, tampering with the scales and containers, and not paying the market price, thus cheating the people. The county didn't care, and the prefecture ignored me. On my way to the province to file a complaint, I was arrested by the county government, who accused me of damaging the county government's reputation and endangering the court, so they imprisoned me. Please, Your Excellency, do me justice."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Do you dare sign and put your fingerprint on this? Even in the capital, would you dare say such a thing?" Du

Kaiyang shouted, "I will never change my ways, even in death."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Good."

Then he called out to the officials of the yamen standing behind Zhang Zhancang, "Where is the county clerk?"

The clerk was a fat man in his forties, with a ruddy complexion and a build somewhat similar to Zhu Chuanzong's at this moment. He stepped forward tremblingly and said, "Sir... Your subordinate Chen Hong is here. What are your orders?"

Zhu Chuanzong sneered, "What are your orders? Look what you've done. You are in charge of the county's grain tax, and you have actually committed such a serious crime as embezzling the national grain tax. This is a capital offense punishable by being torn apart by chariots. Do you know your crime?"

It turned out that according to the rules, the county magistrate's assistant assisted him in managing the county's administration, while the clerk was in charge of the county's grain tax and household registration.

Chen Hong knelt down with a thud, wailing, "My lord, this is a misunderstanding! For so many years, I have handled all affairs according to the old rules! I have not violated any rules. The things you saw before, like the iron weight pressing down the bottom and taking more grain from the people, were all the work of the granary manager. You have already punished him. I have been negligent, but I really knew nothing about it!"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Know nothing about it! So many years of old rules? It seems you've embezzled quite a bit, haven't you?"

He shouted to the onlookers, "Today I will punish these rats who steal the state's grain. They embezzle and line their own pockets; the law cannot tolerate this. Do you dare to testify?"

The people were initially stunned, having never seen an official speak up for the people like this. But when they heard Zhu Chuanzong ask them to testify, they immediately erupted in cheers, all agreeing in unison.

The people were filled with indignation; years of pent-up resentment could finally be vented. Some cursed loudly, while others cried out that Heaven had eyes.

Seeing this, Zhang Zhancang was frightened, but he couldn't stay silent. He went to Zhu Chuanzong's side and said, "Sir, your way of judging cases is against the law! I'm afraid the court won't agree!"

Zhu Chuanzong sneered, "Where is it against the law?"

Zhang Zhancang said, "You should speak in the main hall of the county government... In my jurisdiction, it's better for me to judge cases!"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed loudly, "You want to say I'm disrupting local administration? I have authorization from the court, so you don't need to worry about that. Just wait and see the show!"

Zhu Chuanzong asked the people to recount the various illegal acts committed by the grain depot over the years, and had the clerks write them down. The clerks dared not disobey, and people like Du Kaiyang signed and fingerprinted the petitions. There were four or five thousand people who signed, and they only stopped when there wasn't enough paper. Many people still hadn't had their turn to sign.

Zhu Chuanzong shouted at Chen Hong, the registrar, "Look at this! This is all your doing. As the official in charge of grain affairs in this county, how much tax revenue have you embezzled from the imperial court every year? What is your punishment?"

Chen Hong was terrified, his face pale, and he was at a loss for words. After a moment, he reacted and grabbed Zhang Zhancang's leg, saying, "My lord, please save me!"

Zhang Zhancang smiled obsequiously and said, "My lord, it's just that the weighing scales were inaccurate! The people suffered a little loss. But the extra silver wasn't embezzled by Registrar Chen; it was used for official business. Some of it was for bridge repairs..." The road's funding all came from this. It's the principle of taking from the people and using it for the people! It's not illegal. Of course, I also bear responsibility here; things weren't handled well. Sir, this was our mistake. We know we were wrong, so please just fine us a few months' salary. I promise I'll definitely curb the bad habits in the grain shed, get everyone to take action, correct their misconceptions, and start work earlier and later, truly doing good and practical things for the people. What do you think?"

The officials hurriedly declared, echoing his sentiments.

Zhu Chuanzong said expressionlessly, "Violating national laws is not as simple as a work mistake. Chen Hong, as the registrar of Wugu County, you are in charge of the county's grain affairs, yet you have been exploiting the people's grain and embezzling national taxes. You are the ringleader! Guards! Take Registrar Chen Hong out and behead him. Chen Hong, I'm doing this for your own good. If I report this to the court, you will be executed by dismemberment. Now I'm letting you have a complete corpse; you'll have to thank me in the underworld."

Wang Daniu, Zhao Laosi, Zhang Laowu, and Qian Laoliu immediately came out, grabbed Chen Hong, and dragged him out.

Everyone was stunned; they had never seen a case handled so cleanly and efficiently, and that someone could kill someone so readily.

Chen Hong was dragged a few meters before he came to his senses and shouted, "My lord! I'm innocent! I was just following Magistrate Zhang's orders to collect grain. Every year, the extra grain collected is distributed to Magistrate Zhang at a rate of 50%. Last year, it was about 50,000 taels of silver. I have all the receipts. You can't kill me!..."

The incident happened so suddenly that Zhang Zhancang was initially caught off guard. What experience did Zhang Zhancang have in dealing with an official who didn't follow the rules at all and acted like a madman? Seeing Chen Hong about to be executed, Zhang Zhancang was secretly delighted, thinking, "Good riddance! Go ahead and kill him! You've repeatedly and illegally killed official government officials. Even if you don't lose your life, you'll lose your position. Your superior, Imperial Envoy Zhu Chuanzong, will also be demoted and lose his post. Wait until I petition the court, and you'll all be in for it. The Provincial Governor will definitely like it. That way, I can get promoted."

But just as Chen Hong was saving his life, he suddenly dragged him into the mess. Only then did Zhang Zhancang realize what was happening, and he suddenly thought, "This bastard was plotting against me!"

Zhang Zhancang understood, immediately jumped up, and angrily cursed, "Zhu Tong, you bastard, how dare you..." " You're meddling in the affairs of Wugu County, disrupting the local order. Even if an imperial envoy were here, he couldn't act so recklessly. What right do you have to interfere in our county's affairs? And you're trying to illegally kill

an official of the imperial court—how many heads do you have?" Zhu Chuanzong sneered, "You mad dog, you've finally shown your tail! I don't have the right to kill these corrupt officials? Open your dog eyes wide! I'm a sixth-rank official from the Censorate, here to supervise the affairs of Ningzhi Province. How dare you, a mere seventh-rank official, insult me? You're slandering your superior—don't you want to live?"

At this point, there was no turning back. Zhang Zhancang burst into wild laughter, and then... He said contemptuously, "What right do you have to interfere in our local affairs? What documents and evidence do you have? If not, you'd better get out of Wugu County! Even if an imperial envoy came, to kill a court official, he would have to report to the court. To kill a seventh-rank official, he would have to issue an order from the emperor himself. It would take at least a year and a half for approval. You've already killed a grain official as soon as you arrived in this county. I've already reported you to the higher authorities and impeached you overnight. You can just wait for your punishment."

Zhu Chuanzong was furious and shouted, "I knew you bastard were plotting against me in secret. You want to see me punished? Let's see if you still have any..." He wouldn't live to see that day. "Guards, remove this bastard's hat and strip him of his official robes!"

Wang Daniu and the others stepped forward to attack, but Zhang Zhancang retreated, saying, "Who dares to come up? What are you all standing there for?"

Upon hearing this, the officials immediately surrounded Zhang Zhancang, who shouted, "Do you want to commit murder? To dare kill an official of the court is tantamount to rebellion! Are you planning to rebel? If you continue this nonsense, I'll have you bound first, and then we'll see what happens!"

The officials and constables numbered fifty or sixty, their imposing presence and loud shouts immediately suppressed Zhu Chuanzong's momentum.

Zhu Chuanzong's eyes widened, seemingly spitting fire, and he shouted, "A corrupt official like you has tarnished the reputation of my Great Liang Kingdom! Shouldn't you be killed?"

Seeing the unrest escalating, and Zhu Chuanzong outnumbered and at a disadvantage, while the corrupt county official who had always oppressed them had gained the upper hand, the people were enraged and shouted, "Support the Imperial Envoy, kill the corrupt official! Support the Imperial Envoy, kill the corrupt official!"

There were several thousand people, while all the officials combined numbered only a little over a hundred. Zhang Zhancang, seeing the people suddenly siding with Zhu Chuanzong and surrounding them, was frightened. Forcing a smile, he said to Zhu Chuanzong, "Lord Zhu, let's talk this out! Why make things so tense? If you incite the people to riot, things will escalate. If you think I have done anything illegal or disorderly, you can report it to the court." "I await your memorial, but if you wish to kill me, hehe, I'm afraid you don't have that power!"

Zhu Chuanzong retorted angrily, "I don't have the power to kill you? You've misjudged me!"

The people shouted, "Your Excellency, kill this corrupt official, and we'll testify for you. If the court blames you, we'll risk our lives to protect you!"

At this moment, Shui Ling'er, who had been watching the commotion, also became anxious. With a worried expression, she tugged at Zhu Chuanzong's sleeve and whispered in his ear, "Zhu Tong, do you really not want to be an official anymore? Do you really want to rebel? Don't act so impulsively. You still have a bright future ahead of you! You mustn't do something rash! Being an official isn't like being a thief! You can't just kill people whenever you want."

She thought to herself, "He hates evil like poison, and he wants to kill any corrupt official he sees. He should join our sect, not be an official. With him acting like this... alas, what will become of him?"

Several experienced and prudent elders also said, "Your Excellency, we understand your good intentions. We never expected to see such a good official as you in our lives. But you shouldn't risk your life for us. Don't be fooled by how much the common people hate this corrupt official; they've been oppressed for a long time without much repercussions. You shouldn't be so angry. Please bear with it for now!"

The officials sensed the impending conflict and realized that this minor official sent down for inspection couldn't do much to them. If they united to oppose him, they might not have to suffer yesterday's humiliation. Yesterday, he illegally killed a grain official; how could they not avenge their comrade if given the chance? Besides, now that relations had come to a head, they began to mock Zhu Chuanzong.

Someone said, "Where did this official come from? Trying to kill local officials at will, he really doesn't know his place."

Someone else said, "A young man with no experience is unreliable. Your Excellency sent out a mere child; it's laughable. Does he really think he represents the imperial court?"

All sorts of sarcastic remarks filled the air. Zhu Chuanzong, his face turning purple with rage, suddenly roared, "Fang Zhongxi, you bastard, come out here now! Are you trying to embarrass me?"

Someone in the crowd shouted, "Young Master... I'm here. Everyone, please allow me to..."

The crowd parted, and a man carrying a sword stepped forward, shouting, "The Imperial Sword is here! The sword bestowed by the Emperor has arrived!"

Zhu Chuanzong saw Fang Zhongxi approaching with the sword, followed by Nuanyun, Xiaoyu, and Mr. Wu, all dressed as women. Overjoyed, he picked up the sword and shouted, "The Imperial Sword bestowed by the Emperor is here! Seeing this sword is like seeing the Emperor himself! Tell me, do I now have the right to govern this small Wugu County?"

Everyone was stunned. Someone began to kneel and shout "Long live the Emperor!" Then everyone knelt down, and the shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" resounded throughout the heavens and earth.

After a moment of silence, Zhu Chuanzong shouted, "His Majesty knows that corrupt officials are abusing their power under the guise of the court, and has specially dispatched an imperial envoy to punish them. Today, I will rid His Majesty of this scourge. Zhang Zhancang, you oppress the people; the evidence is irrefutable. You have embezzled state taxes; your crimes are heinous and you deserve death!"

Before Zhang Zhancang could understand what was happening, Zhu Chuanzong thrust his sword at him. The imperial

sword, a sword of unparalleled sharpness, was a masterpiece, and with a single stroke, it killed Zhang Zhancang.

The people, seeing this, shouted, "Long live the Emperor! The upright and wise ruler is truly sagacious!"

All the officials were terrified, their faces ashen, and they knelt on the ground, too afraid to rise.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "I'll spare you officials for now; your crimes will be dealt with later. Focus on your duties, and if anyone further damages the court's reputation, they will be severely punished. Imperial Envoy Zhu Chuanzong has arrived; the people can come to the yamen to file their grievances."

He then walked towards Mr. Wu, saying, "Sir, you've arrived! Please come to the yamen to speak."

He and Mr. Wu, along with others, went to the yamen. The people were overjoyed; hearing that the Imperial Envoy had arrived, they pointed and whispered, trying to guess which one was him.

Zhu Chuanzong passed by Shui Ling'er and smiled gently at her. Shui Ling'er seemed to be in a dream, and it took her a long time to come to her senses.

When Zhu Chuanzong and his entourage arrived at the yamen, Wu Siyuan smiled at Zhu Chuanzong and said, "You had a good time this time, didn't you! How impressive!"

Zhu Chuanzong thought he was being sarcastic and replied, "I killed corrupt officials to warn the bureaucracy and to bring about a fresh atmosphere in the court. The Emperor is determined to reform the bureaucracy, and I think there's a good chance he will reward me. I'm not being reckless. If you think I've done something wrong, sir, you don't need to persuade me. I'll bear the consequences myself."

Wu Siyuan said, "Indeed, you're a good man. Since you've decided to do this, I will do my best to help you. You're not young anymore, and you have your own opinions, so I naturally won't stop you. You should submit a memorial to the Emperor..." "I'm willing to write for you."

Zhu Chuanzong was overjoyed and said, "If I had known you would support me, I would have been relieved. Making decisions on my own, and fearing your interference, feels like fighting a lone battle."

Wu Siyuan was moved and said, "Alas, you are right. To eradicate all evil, yet receive no support—is this reality? You are young and energetic; I shouldn't restrict you or make you as conservative as I am. Go for it! Perhaps this way, you can create a new situation!"

Zhu Chuanzong smiled and said, "Then thank you very much, sir."

Seeing the two chatting and laughing happily, Nuanyun went to prepare wine and food, and the two ate and talked.

Zhu Chuanzong recounted his experiences along the way to Wu Siyuan, saying, "Sir, I plan to submit a memorial to the Emperor, outlining my thoughts. After I finish writing it, please review it and see if there are any flaws."

Wu Siyuan replied, "Very well. Wealth and honor are determined by fate. Perhaps the Emperor will recognize your ambition and appoint you to an important position. The fact that the Emperor promoted you exceptionally for the case you handled in Jianghuai Province is a harbinger of this."

Zhu Chuanzong was overjoyed and began writing the memorial that very night, including a report on the people's ignorance and the tragic act of killing one's son to honor one's mother.

The next day, Wu Siyuan polished his writing and secretly sent it to the capital.

Left Chancellor Li Yiheng received a series of memorials from Ningzhi Province. The first one was about Zhang Zhancang, the magistrate of Wugu County, impeaching Imperial Commissioner Zhu Chuanzong for condoning his subordinates' unlawful killing of a grain warehouse official. Seeing that the matter was not yet clear and not of great importance, Li Yiheng temporarily suppressed it. However, the very next day, he received a memorial stating that Zhang Zhancang had been killed by Zhu Chuanzong's subordinates with an imperial sword. Li Yiheng frowned and immediately presented it to the Emperor.

Emperor Mingzong said, "The matter is not yet clear; let's wait and see! Zhu Chuanzong's memorial will arrive in a day at most. Let's see what he says about this."

Sure enough, only half a day later, Zhu Chuanzong's memorial arrived.

After reading it, Emperor Mingzong smiled at Li Yiheng and said, "That Zhu Chuanzong is indeed extraordinary. I've never encountered such an imperial envoy before! Look, he hasn't even arrived in Shanyang County yet, and the impeachment memorials are already piling up like snowflakes."

Li Yiheng pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, although he executed a corrupt official who embezzled grain taxes, it seems inappropriate to kill him in public without a trial by the court. He should still be warned."

Emperor Mingzong said, "Your mature and prudent thinking is the right path. However, having a few people like Zhu Chuanzong would be very beneficial to establishing a good atmosphere in the court. I have been in power for twenty-six years, and you have been prime minister for almost twenty years. Today, the world can be described as a peaceful and prosperous age, but now official corruption seems to be on the rise, and the people are full of complaints. Recently, the Laozi sect has rebelled under the banner of eliminating corruption, and its momentum is considerable. I have always governed the country with benevolence and filial piety." "But the officialdom is so corrupt now, it needs to be rectified. Do you really think I, sitting in the palace, know nothing?"

Li Yiheng hurriedly knelt down and said, "It's all my fault. As the head of all officials, I have allowed the officials to become so corrupt. My crime is immense. If I were a few years younger, I would certainly have redeemed myself through meritorious service. But now I am too old and frail. Please, Your Majesty, grant me permission to retire!"

Emperor Mingzong saw that Li Yiheng's beard was white and his face was full of wrinkles. He was indeed too old and sighed, "I know your heart, but there are still important matters to be resolved. You cannot retire yet! I am also willing but unable, but my children and grandchildren are unfilial. What can I do? I must persevere for another two years. I promise you, after two years, I will retire with you and live a free and carefree life."

Although Li Yiheng was old, he was actually very clear-headed. The emperor was getting older and his temper was becoming more and more eccentric. He was difficult to serve. If he could retire peacefully, it would not be a bad thing. But upon hearing Emperor Mingzong's words, he was deeply grateful and tears streamed down his face. He said, "Your Majesty is only in your fifties, in the prime of your life. You will rule for at least several more decades! How can you say you are old? As for your sons and grandsons, I think they are all good. As long as the ministers assist them wholeheartedly, they will all become wise rulers like Your Majesty. Your Majesty..." Emperor

Mingzong interrupted him, saying, "Yiheng, don't mention those wicked beasts. Just thinking about them makes me angry. Some are just watching the show, some are desperately trying to seize power, but few are truly shrewd and capable. Let's not talk about retirement for now, let's see how to deal with this extraordinary imperial envoy!"

Emperor Mingzong said, "Look at this memorial."

He read slowly, “When officials collect overdue taxes, clerks stand at the door, shackles and clubs on their bodies, and people cannot even die! The heavy burden of taxes is entirely due to the corruption of officials. For every share the court receives, the corrupt officials take ten times; the people are deeply burdened, and this is the root of their suffering. Therefore, the farmers of today are not the farmers of the emperor, but the farmers of corrupt officials!”

Emperor Mingzong said, “What a fine line: ‘For every share the court receives, the corrupt officials take ten times; the people are deeply burdened, and this is the root of their suffering.’ My Great Liang Dynasty cannot be ruined by these corrupt officials. ” "In his hands," Zhu Chuanzong said. "Although the amount of grain embezzled by officials is small, the cumulative effect over time is enormous. Therefore, not killing them would appease public anger and serve as a warning to others." So he immediately ordered his subordinates to kill the man. "Using the sword bestowed upon me to kill someone is not a problem. Tell me, why did he send his subordinates instead of showing himself?"

Li Yiheng, guessing the emperor's meaning, said, "Is it because he wanted to kill someone to establish his authority, but feared that killing a court official on the spot would..." "Being implicated, he ordered his subordinates to do it. Even if the emperor blames him, he can easily shift the blame to his subordinates. The punishment will be much lighter."

Emperor Mingzong laughed, "This lad is quite cunning. Let's just let this matter go. We won't commend him, nor will we blame him. We'll deal with it when he returns to the capital. However, I secretly order him not to kill anyone on the spot again, unless it happens suddenly and is out of control. Otherwise, no matter how serious the crime, he must be tried according to the law."

Li Yiheng said, "Yes. But what about the matter of him killing his son to be filial to his mother?"

Emperor Mingzong said, "What do you think?"

Li Yiheng said, "Your Majesty is benevolent and kind. Such things should be abolished

. It should be widely publicized in the official gazette to show Your Majesty's good intentions. In this way, the people will know that Your Majesty is benevolent and will surely be moved to tears." Emperor Mingzong said, "Good. This matter should be widely publicized."

The next day, the official gazette of Liang published a large section of Emperor Mingzong's new decree that cutting flesh to heal relatives was no longer allowed, and that this matter should not be commended.

Of course, the passages are filled with praise for the emperor's boundless grace, unparalleled benevolence, and compassion for the people, with countless verses praising his longevity.

Furthermore, historical records state that in the twenty-sixth year of Emperor Mingzong of Liang, Zhu Chuanzong submitted a memorial accusing his son of killing his mother to honor her. The emperor, upon hearing this, was furious, saying, "The natural bond between father and son is unknowable to the people, who have killed their son, thus destroying all moral principles!"

He ordered Jiang Bai arrested, given one hundred strokes of the cane, and exiled to the frontier.

Chapter Seven: The chivalrous

Shui Ling'er is waiting for Zhu Chuanzong in her room at the yamen. Unaware that Zhu Tong, who has been with him, is actually the imperial envoy himself, she is deeply worried about Zhu Tong's unbridled behavior and disregard for rules. She fears the envoy will punish him. In broad daylight, unable to eavesdrop, she is extremely anxious.

In her anxiety, Shui Ling'er suddenly had a change of heart: "I have no relation to Zhu Tou. Although he is my benefactor, there's no need for me to worry about him like this. Could it be..."

Thinking of this, she blushed and scolded, "Shui Ling'er, you're so pathetic! Since you've decided to serve the people of the world for your entire life, even at the cost of your life, why are you still so attached to a man! And he's so fat..."

Just as Shui Ling'er was lost in thought, the door opened, and Zhu Tong walked in listlessly.

Shui Ling'er asked anxiously, "What's wrong? Did the imperial envoy blame you? What punishment did he receive?"

Zhu Chuanzong had originally wanted to test Shui Ling'er to see if she cared about him. Now, seeing her anxious face and her obvious concern, he was secretly pleased. She had always been calm in the face of life and death, so she must like him now. He frowned and sighed, not knowing what to say, and began to ponder.

Shui Ling'er said, "Brother Zhu, don't worry. At worst, you can quit being an official and suffer such injustice! You're such a good person; all of us in the sect will surely like you. Why don't you join our sect? We're all like brothers and sisters; you won't be unhappy anymore."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "No. It's not as serious as you think. The Imperial Envoy just blamed me for not handling important matters and told me to hurry up and investigate the case. He wants to be stationed in Wugu County to attract those people's attention; those officials will definitely rush here to pay their respects. He told us to hurry up and investigate the case discreetly, without delay."

Shui Ling'er relaxed. In one breath, she said, "This imperial envoy is quite good! Let's travel through the night and go now!"

Zhu Chuanzong was taken aback and said, "Don't rush. Look at all the great things I've done, and you're not even going to reward me."

Shui Ling'er asked curiously, "Reward you?"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed and said, "Yes! Give me a kiss as a reward!"

Shui Ling'er's cheeks flushed red, and she said reproachfully, "Brother Zhu, don't talk nonsense. I know you're a good person, and you've done so much for the common people. But don't joke with me. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll get angry." After saying that, she

bit her finger and turned her head away.

Zhu Chuanzong saw her slender waist and plump hips, her figure alluring, and he wanted to hug her and kiss her to his heart's content, but knowing her fiery temper, he had to restrain himself. He thought to himself, "I'm so stupid. What good will I get if I ask for benefits afterward? I must ask for benefits first in the future. Right, her master is treating illnesses at my house! It would be best if any of her sisters or brothers were sick and asked me for help, then I would have a good meal!"

Thinking of this, he laughed heartily.

Shui Ling'er turned around, her blush still fresh, and asked curiously, "What are you laughing at?"

Zhu Chuanzong quickly replied, "Nothing, I'll go pack my things now."

He turned and left, thinking to himself, "I can't tell you what I'm thinking."

Zhu Chuanzong went to say goodbye to Mr. Wu and Xiao Yu. He instructed Xiao Yu to impersonate an imperial envoy to deal with the officials, while he secretly went to investigate the case.

Xiao Yu immediately objected, saying, "Young Master, what if we're exposed? I'm not afraid of being accused of impersonating an imperial envoy; I'm just a young girl, at most I'll go to jail for a few years. But it wouldn't be good if it implicated you

and got punished! It would affect your career." Mr. Wu laughed, "It's nothing. Actually, there are impersonators among officials. In the end, it all just fades away. You have to do this to investigate the case; even if the Emperor finds out, he won't blame you."

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "I knew it! My idea is brilliant."

He had Xiao Yu change into official robes, and a handsome young official appeared before them. Everyone clapped and laughed.

Zhu Chuanzong asked Mr. Wu to help Xiao Yu handle the aftermath, and left after giving him some instructions.

Xiao Yu said, "Sir, why is it that after so many years of exploitation, only one person, Du Kaiyang, dared to file a complaint?"

Wu Siyuan said, "Didn't you see what happened to Du Kaiyang? He went to file a complaint, and the consequence was imprisonment! If he hadn't been lucky enough to encounter a rare good official like your young master, he would never have gotten out in his life."

Xiao Yu said, "But if he went to the provincial level to file a complaint, wouldn't someone take care of it?"

Wu Siyuan smiled and said, "Miss Xiao Yu, although you are smart, you are still too kind. Provincial officials receive gifts and doormats wherever they go on tours. At home, they receive holiday gifts and birthday gifts, according to regulations..." Every year there's a "helping fee." This money is all taken from the various prefectures and counties, and in turn, the prefectures and counties take it from the people. These prefectures and counties, using the names of officials at all levels in the capital and provinces, leverage their power to extort money from the people. Of what's extorted, the superiors get half, and the prefectures and counties pocket the other half. At first, there were some reservations, but after a year or two, it became a precedent and unbreakable. What was originally a clandestine practice of arbitrary charges became public. Do you think the provincial officials would cut off their own source of income?"

Xiao Yu said, "Then go to the capital to file a complaint! Didn't Miss Yue succeed? Besides you, young master, there are plenty of good officials in the capital!"

Wu Siyuan said, "If you file a complaint in the province, nobody will care, they won't even ask. If you file a complaint in the capital, most of the time you'll get no response. If you're really lucky and someone takes notice, they'll just approve it and let the provincial officials study it. Sending an imperial envoy to investigate is the end of it. Even if the imperial envoy is relatively conscientious, he won't offend the officials. He'll just try to mediate so that neither side suffers too much loss. An imperial envoy like your young master, who dares to kill, is extremely rare!"

Xiao Yu said, "So this fat pig is so powerful."

Realizing he had let something slip, he quickly stuck out his tongue.

Wu Siyuan laughed heartily, then said seriously, "Don't think that troubling the imperial envoy is a good thing. With the envoy's arrival, the whole province will be lavishly entertained, and the people will have to spend money again. Provincial officials will only feel at ease, only feel there are no future troubles, if the envoy leaves with a full load. Therefore, the people have also realized that complaining to higher authorities will never solve the problem. So, the people are sheep, and the officials are wolves, to be eaten however they please."

Xiao Yu, however, recalled her past and sighed, "So I was a sheep after

all. I only understand this today. It was my destiny from birth." Wu Siyuan frowned, thinking, "This girl is clever and quick-witted, but truly, her ambitions are higher than the sky, and her fate is thinner than paper; she was born with the fate of a girl. But am I not the same? I am just a clever sheep; the world is a world of wolves!"

Zhu Chuanzong and Shui Ling'er disguised themselves and left Wugu County, taking their four servants with them, heading towards Shanyang County.

The six traveled for half a day and arrived at a village market. This market was bustling with activity; people from all around flocked here, making it a renowned market.

The six of them found a restaurant called Yuepenglou to dine at. From the second floor, they watched the market teeming with people, a truly vibrant scene. Zhu Chuanzong exclaimed in surprise, "Even in this remote and impoverished place, it's so lively!"

Qian Laoliu said, "Young Master, you're used to living in the capital and have seen all the splendor. Don't look down on the countryside. Actually, the markets in the countryside are just as lively."

Zhao Laosi quickly added, "Qian Liu, don't talk nonsense. We just have a lot of people in the countryside, and people from poor backgrounds join in the fun. Look at the vendors; besides some tattered clothes and rough pastries, where do you find the variety, the delicious food, and the fun things to do in the capital?"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "Although it's not as bustling as the capital, it's still lively. Miss Shui..." "You know this place very well, don't you? The food and drinks at this restaurant are quite good. You're a great guide!"

Shui Ling'er said. "It's all local wild game; I knew you liked it. You're used to delicacies, so you find these wild game delicious, don't you?"

Zhu Chuanzong said, "That's true. But something about what you're saying sounds a bit strange to me!"

Shui Ling'er said, "Which of you officials hasn't tried all the good food and fun things?"

Zhu Chuanzong laughed, "So you're mocking me for being an official."

Shui Ling'er laughed, "I wouldn't dare!" " But you see, these officials are strange," said Zhu Chuanzong. "If they had even a little bit of concern for the people and a willingness to do good for them, the people would consider them good officials. But why are there so few of them?"

Zhu Chuanzong replied, "Young lady, you may not like what I'm saying. Actually, there are quite a few good officials. Society is very bad these days, and the common people are often bullied, but there are still many good officials who work for the people. Of course, some of them are corrupt and indulge in pleasure, but they have also done a lot of good deeds."

Shui Ling'er said, "Good officials like you and Li Dongchang are..." "Yes, but officials with a conscience, as you say, are rare. I've only seen how wicked they are; there's always someone worse! It's astonishing."

Zhu Chuanzong thought, "Miss Shui is too extreme. Actually, the high-ranking officials in the capital are not bad; it's just that local officials do too much evil, causing the people to lose their hearts. No wonder she joined the Laozi Cult; she must think there are almost no good officials in the world. But let's slowly change her mind! It can't be rushed. It would be best if everyone in the Laozi Cult became good."

The two couldn't agree on anything and started eating in silence. Just then, they suddenly heard a commotion from the market downstairs.

There were shouts and curses, and a group of people were gathered around a fruit stall. A farmer was being beaten to the ground by two burly men, and a woman was kneeling on the ground, begging for mercy. The onlookers were all talking at once, but no one stepped forward to break up the fight.

Zhu Chuanzong said, "There's a fight. Let's go see."

The waiter in the restaurant laughed, "There are fights almost every day. What's there to see? Sir, you'd better stay upstairs and watch. If you get caught up in it, it'll be a loss."

Zhu Chuanzong said, "Is that so? Don't try to scare me. Are you afraid we'll run away without paying? This silver ingot is worth ten taels. Leave it here with our belongings. We'll settle the bill when we get back."

The waiter said, "You look like an official. So generous, not afraid of showing off your wealth. But, sir, you'd better be careful when you're out and about."

Zhu Chuanzong was anxious to see what was happening, so he ignored the waiter and went straight there.

The group squeezed into the crowd and saw two burly men in official uniforms beating a farmer, who seemed to be unconscious. The woman next to him was no longer kneeling and begging for mercy; she was just sitting on the ground crying.

Zhu Chuanzong was furious. Wang Daniu said, "The officials are bullying the common people!"

Zhu Chuanzong pushed his way in, shouting, "Stop! Let's talk this out!"

When Zhu Chuanzong got closer, he saw a man grabbing one of the constables' hands, calmly saying, "You two constables are quite the show-offs! Bullying the common people like this, aren't you afraid of incurring public wrath?"

One of the constables angrily said, "Let go! Let go now! Otherwise, I'll beat you too!"

The man smiled and released his grip. This man looked to be in his thirties, tall and imposing, with a black beard and two scars on his face, quite imposing. Although he was smiling, he exuded an air of authority and ferocity.

The two constables didn't recognize this man; he was clearly not a local, and his clothes and appearance suggested he was no ordinary person. But they were used to being domineering in this area, and besides, if they were intimidated at their own doorstep, what would become of their reputation? Could they still maintain their standing here? The two men exchanged a glance. One of the constables said, "What are you doing here? Get out of here and don't delay our work. This kid is illegally selling things here. Who do you think you are, daring to meddle in our business?"

Before the man could speak, two burly men beside him stepped forward and shouted, "How dare you speak to my brother like that? Show some manners. Are these lackeys of the yamen so arrogant?"

Although the three men in front of them were very imposing, they were used to being lawless. Now that they were being insulted, they were immediately enraged and said, "Hey, you guys are asking for trouble. Which gang are you from? Daring to go against the court and insult our officials?"

One of the men chuckled and said, "Officials? Who do you think you are? It's none of your business whichever gang we're from. You can't bully people."

When the black-bearded man appeared, Zhu Chuanzong was stunned. He felt that this person looked very familiar, like an old friend of many years, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him before.

The two constables, humiliated and enraged, drew their swords and roared, "Have you two had enough? If you don't get out of here, I'll chop you three bastards to pieces!"

The two burly men, far from being afraid, retorted angrily, "You two lackeys and bullies, are you really looking for death?"

According to the laws of the Great Liang Dynasty, ordinary people, except for government officials and yamen runners, were not allowed to carry any weapons. Even a slightly sharp kitchen knife would be confiscated. There had been instances where ordinary people who had offended the officials had their kitchen knives confiscated.

With the officials wielding their swords and the common people unarmed, how could they possibly be a match for them? The two constables, having already drawn their weapons, assumed the three men would be afraid, but to their surprise, the three men showed no fear and became even more ferocious. The two men were somewhat frightened. But the die was cast. With a shout, they slashed at the black-bearded leader.

Before the two men could even get close, they felt a sharp pain in their wrists, followed by their legs buckling, and they collapsed to the ground.

Before they could even understand what had happened, they were knocked to the ground.

They scrambled to their feet and ran, not even bothering to pick up the broadsword that was nearby, shouting, "You wait! Don't run if you dare!"

Zhu Chuanzong, seeing the three men's composure and lack of fear, couldn't help but admire them, thinking, "Who are these three? They're not even afraid of the officials; they're really bold."

He was about to go forward to greet them and make their acquaintance when Shui Ling'er stepped forward and said to the man with the black beard, "Brother, you'd better hurry! The constables are coming soon. There are only a few proper officials in this small village, but there are plenty of idlers and thugs; it's even more dangerous than the prefecture or county. You'd better run!"

The man laughed, "Thank you for the reminder, young lady. But don't worry. These petty thugs can't handle me."

Just then, a group of constables and thugs carrying clubs, knives, and spears rushed over.

The village was small, and even the smallest thing spread quickly throughout the entire village, let alone an incident involving the beating of government officials. The constables and local thugs, who were drinking and extorting money at the market, rushed over as soon as trouble broke out.

The three men, seeing the thugs arrive, remained calm, their lips curling into mocking smiles. The surrounding crowd had already dispersed, watching the spectacle from a distance. The injured farmer was helped to a safe spot by his wife. The

seventeen or eighteen thugs, seeing only three men, were all delighted, thinking, "Three dare to cause trouble?"

Outnumbering the weak, victory was their favorite pastime.

The constables, with a dozen or so thugs, attacked without a word, expecting the three to surrender. But the three men drew their swords from their backs, their blades gleaming menacingly. They formed a circle, and in a few rounds, the three had the rabble down, some with broken arms and legs. These men, who had never seen such a sight before, collapsed to the ground, begging for mercy and crying, "Your Majesties, spare us! We'll never dare to do it again. Please spare us!"

One of the men said, "A bunch of good-for-nothings, spineless cowards, worse than dogs. Brother, what should we do with them?"

The black-bearded man didn't even look up and said, "Forget it, go give that injured civilian some silver for treatment. Let these lackeys go! If they cause any more trouble in the future, we'll kill them without mercy. Come on, let's go eat."

With that, he strode away.

The man did as he was told, and before leaving, he glared fiercely at the thugs on the ground, saying, "You bastards, if you bully the common people again, I'll kill you all."

Then he followed the black-bearded man.

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