Cheng Di sat in the Grand Tutor's chair, wiping water stains from the table with a rag, while Eunuch Zhao stood by to serve.
Prefect Chen swallowed hard and cupped his hands, saying, "Master Huang, Master Huang!"
"Insolent!" Eunuch Zhao roared, his eyes wide with anger, "Have you no respect for His Majesty? Kneel!"
Prefect Chen jumped in fright, quickly lifted the hem of his robe, and knelt properly on the ground, "Your humble subject... your humble subject greets His Majesty!"
With no one else in the room, Cheng Di no longer needed to hide his identity.
But the more he looked at Prefect Chen, the more displeased he became.
This fellow not only ate and drank excessively but couldn't even manage his own household. He had even insulted him, calling him an old fogey. What kind of conduct was this?
If this were to happen in the imperial palace, Madam Huang would have been executed countless times over.
"Prefect Chen," Cheng Di asked calmly, "I ask you, is your wife usually this arrogant and overbearing, looking down on everyone?"
Upon hearing this, Prefect Chen was utterly flustered, sweat beading on his forehead and dripping down, "Your... Your Majesty, your humble subject has already divorced her. No one would dare marry a woman like that..."
"Is that so?" Cheng Di shot him a sideways glance and sneered, "Then how much fake wine did you drink to take her back in the first place?"
Prefect Chen: "..."
He had indeed misjudged. He thought that with Chen Xiaoran around, he and his wife could somehow get along. He never expected that woman to become more and more presumptuous and shameless.
"Prefect Chen, I can overlook the matter of her insulting me. But she said you became a prefect through bribing court officials. Is this true?" Cheng Di asked, narrowing his eyes.
He detested such clandestine dealings and the buying and selling of offices more than anything in his life.
Prefect Chen wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and repeatedly cupped his hands, "Your Majesty, my father-in-law did spend quite a bit of money to grease the wheels back then. However, over the years, your humble subject has worked diligently, serving as both county magistrate and prefect in Heyang County, ensuring the people live and work in peace. Although your humble subject has sinned, his crimes do not warrant death. I implore Your Majesty to show leniency!"
Cheng Di: "..."
Good heavens, he hadn't even said anything yet, and Prefect Chen was already pleading for himself.
Eunuch Zhao leaned in and whispered into Cheng Di's ear, "Your Majesty, although Prefect Chen bribed court officials back then, he has indeed achieved a lot in recent years. Moreover, the bribery was due to his father-in-law's excessive ambition and had no direct connection to Prefect Chen..."
Cheng Di nodded upon hearing this, "I understand!"
Just then, Prefect Qin woke up. He rushed out of the room and asked the waiter, "Have the gifts I brought yesterday been delivered?"
"Sir, after you arrived yesterday, you were busy drinking, and the gifts are still piled up on the carriage..."
"Oh dear, what a pig's brain I have! Hurry, bring all the gifts inside, quickly!" Prefect Qin instructed.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Coincidentally, these words carried into the west wing and reached Cheng Di's ears.
He gave Eunuch Zhao a look, "Go, summon Prefect Qin!"
"Yes!"
Eunuch Zhao walked out and saw Prefect Qin squatting by the well, drinking water with a ladle.
Upon seeing Eunuch Zhao, Prefect Qin quickly threw down the ladle and respectfully bowed, "Greetings, Brother Zhao, haha!"
Eunuch Zhao: "..."
Brother Zhao?
What kind of address was that?
"My master wishes to see you!" Eunuch Zhao said expressionlessly.
Prefect Qin felt a bad premonition rise within him.
He was completely unaware of the quarrel between the prefect and his wife, and he thought His Majesty was calling him to inquire about the recent situation in the prefectural city.
"Then, then I shall go in and change my clothes first!" Prefect Qin said with a smile.
He was disheveled and reeked of alcohol, making it inappropriate to face His Majesty.
"No need!" Eunuch Zhao glanced at him, "Prefect Chen is in an even worse state than you!"
Prefect Qin: "???"
What was going on?
What were they talking about in there, Prefect Chen and His Majesty?
With a heart full of unease, Prefect Qin slowly entered the west wing.
Then he saw Prefect Chen kneeling before Cheng Di, trembling, his face as pale as paper, cold sweat soaking through the back of his clothes.
"Your humble subject..."
Just as Prefect Qin was about to kneel and pay his respects, Cheng Di waved his hand, "No need!"
"Th-thank you, Your Majesty!" Prefect Qin glanced at Prefect Chen with his eyes, his heart in turmoil.
Cheng Di stood up and walked to the window. Seeing Old Man Yun and Madam Gu walking out of the large courtyard one after another with baskets, he asked, "Prefect Qin, under your jurisdiction, have there been any instances of accepting bribes or buying and selling offices?"
Upon hearing this, Prefect Qin shook his head firmly, "Reporting to Your Majesty, there have been no such situations..."
Even if there were, people conducted them secretly, and he wouldn't know!
Cheng Di turned back and stared coldly at Prefect Qin, "If not, then how did he become prefect? I have heard that in recent years, floods and droughts have occurred frequently in the prefectural and county areas, leading to many deaths among the populace. You two are the parents of the people here. In your tenure, have you done anything to benefit the people?"
"Especially you!" Cheng Di pointed at Prefect Chen's nose and angrily berated, "You only know how to eat and drink excessively all day long, almost depleting the wild game in the mountains. While you indulge in fine meats and delicacies, you disregard the lives of the common people. You are living quite comfortably as a prefect!"
Prefect Chen: "..."
It's over, it's over. He was going to be dismissed from office!
It was all that damned shrew Madam Huang's fault. If she hadn't caused trouble, would His Majesty have gotten so angry?
His official cap was now in jeopardy, and it was all the fault of that prodigal woman.
Prefect Qin was also filled with panic, tightly clenching his sleeves, not daring to breathe heavily.
If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have come to Er Man's wedding. Wasn't this just asking for trouble?
Cheng Di stared at Prefect Chen and Prefect Qin for a moment, then walked to his seat, picked up his teacup, and took a sip, contemplating how to deal with them.
Eunuch Zhao bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the two officials are actually very popular in the village and do not put on airs. I hope you will show leniency!"
Prefect Qin: "..."
What did it have to do with him?
He hadn't been eating and drinking excessively. If only Prefect Chen had made a mistake, why was he being dragged down with him!
Cheng Di pondered for a moment, then said, "Prefect Chen, I hear that Heyang County has never had a county magistrate. It would be a waste of your talent to have you, a prefect, manage it. How about this: from now on, you shall be the county magistrate of Heyang County. As for the position of prefect, let Prefect Qin take it!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Prefect Chen and Prefect Qin both stumbled, almost fainting.
They had been demoted so inexplicably!