The county magistrate burned the note and quickly changed into his official robes.
Drums were sounding outside. With an angry expression and a solemn demeanor, he sat on the dais, looking every bit the part.
Zhao Jiaqi and the other two stood before him. She faced the magistrate, and they subtly sized each other up.
"Your Honor," she began, "these individuals were gambling in public. According to the laws of the Inner City, anyone gambling outside of a designated gambling house shall have their stakes confiscated and be fined fifty thousand taels of silver. Is that correct?"
The magistrate’s eyes flickered to the wealthy local gentry standing beside her. These were all influential figures in the town, and to see them in such a state ignited his anger.
"Insolence! Arresting gamblers is the government's duty. What business is it of yours?"
"This magistrate sees that you were the ones fighting. You even dared to strike government officials. You are simply courting death!"
After a furious outburst, the magistrate turned his wrath upon Zhao Jiaqi. "You know the Inner City laws so well, then tell me, how will you be punished for striking government officials?"
Zhao Jiaqi sneered. "Punishment? You ask me how I should be punished without even inquiring about the matter? Am I the magistrate of this town?"
Before the magistrate could respond, Zhao Jiaqi continued, "If I were the magistrate, I would smash my head right here to avoid further embarrassment!"
Hearing such arrogant words, the magistrate was furious, nearly choking with rage. The gavel in his hand pounded the bench incessantly.
"Insolent! Utterly insolent!"
"Based on your actions, I do not need to conduct a trial to know you are villains. Kneel now and apologize to them, and perhaps I will show leniency and spare your lives. Otherwise, do not blame me for showing no mercy and executing you here!"
Seeing his furious outburst and hearing him speak those words publicly, Zhao Jiaqi wondered what was going through this man's mind.
Execute them?
Zhao Jiaqi mockingly laughed. "Pray tell, do you have the authority to execute people?"
Even the Prefecture Governor did not have such power anymore.
Sentences of death required a step-by-step report, a thorough investigation, approval from the Prefect, and a signed memorial before execution could proceed.
In the past, it wasn't so complicated. This law was revised a few years ago and promulgated in the middle of last year, primarily to prevent innocent people from dying.
Yet, after the law was enacted, the subordinates below seemed to disregard it entirely, which naturally angered them.
The magistrate was stumped by her question. His heart tightened. He looked closely at the people before him and, after a long pause, asked, "Who are you? State your names."
Seeing a mere county magistrate acting so pompous, the chief official stepped forward and rebuked him. "You, a mere seventh-rank official, hold such airs? You act tyrannically here, harboring villains, and without investigating the facts, you arbitrarily condemn people. What kind of local official are you?"
The magistrate was once again put on the spot. This time, he discerned something different in their words. He had a feeling these people had some influence.
The mention of a "seventh-rank official" indicated that the speaker's rank was higher than his own. Could this be people sent by the Prefect to investigate them?
He recalled the Prefect mentioning at the beginning of the year that some people would be dispatched to inspect local officials. Those with good performance would be promoted, those with poor performance would be dismissed, and those who were mediocre and made no mistakes would remain in their positions.
Thinking this, they must be people sent by the Prefect, which explained their confidence.
Immediately, he rose and, with a smile, walked down the steps. He approached the three with fawning subservience, bowing and scraping.
"You are Imperial Envoys, are you not? This humble one was blind. I beg the three esteemed officials not to take it to heart!"
Imperial Envoys?
What in the world was this?
Zhao Jiaqi and Fan Zehao exchanged glances, both wondering what an "Imperial Envoy" was.
However, being astute, they remained silent, watching the magistrate to see what he would say next. As expected, seeing their displeasure, he cast his gaze towards the bound individuals.
He immediately forced a smile and explained, "It's like this, Your Honors. That hot pot restaurant is owned by the Princess. The complainant stated that the hot pot restaurant was smashed and spoke of spies. Your Excellencies, this is an establishment belonging to the Princess. How could we allow such an establishment to be bullied?"
He was using the Princess's name again. She detested bullying, yet her own establishment was being run by these people. It was truly too much.
To tolerate the restaurant bullying people, and to have these protectors of theirs, if they hadn't given the restaurant manager so much face, they would not have acted so outrageously.
Zhao Jiaqi suppressed her anger, her voice softening slightly. "Did the Princess secretly permit such actions?"
The magistrate was now embarrassed. He had mentioned it was the Princess's property, implying a clear meaning, yet this woman was relentlessly pursuing the matter.
He pondered for a moment, then gave an awkward chuckle and nodded. "Does this require a clear hint from the Princess? The Princess is such a busy person; how could she specifically instruct on such matters? But we, as subordinates, must always share the burden with our master!"
"Then you are presuming the Princess's intentions and subsequently condoning the restaurant manager's misbehavior!"
Even a fool like the magistrate would not admit to that. "Oh, my lord, how can this be said? What do you mean by the manager's misbehavior? Wasn't he acting for the good of the master, to earn more silver?"
Zhao Jiaqi snorted, exhaling through her nostrils. They both claimed to act for her own good, yet behind her back, they engaged in all sorts of despicable acts.
"To act for the Princess's good, they arbitrarily bully guests, driving them away while they haven't even finished their meal?"
"To act for the Princess's good, a guest merely offered an opinion, and was then labeled a spy?"
"To act for the Princess's good, you immediately threatened to kill us?"
"Are you truly acting for the Princess's good, or for the monthly silver tribute you receive from them?"
Zhao Jiaqi took a deep breath and said, "Why does it sound like none of these actions were for the Princess's good, but rather constantly tarnishing her reputation?"
"This..." The magistrate wiped the sweat from his forehead. He glanced around the hall, shifted his feet, and sidled up to Zhao Jiaqi, whispering, "My lord, it is inconvenient to speak here. Why don't we go to the back, and I will explain things to you in detail!"
Zhao Jiaqi frowned and stepped back, refusing outright. "No need. Whatever you have to say, say it here directly. The people outside are watching!"
How could the matter of silver notes be discussed in front of so many people? Moreover, the two men behind her, apart from the initial intervention and statement, had remained silent.
The magistrate secretly wondered if this woman was the Prefect's wife. Otherwise, why would she speak with such authority?