“They are all waiting…”
Xue Zining looked at the moonlight outside and said slowly, “You should sleep too. We have to travel tomorrow.”
In the middle of the night, Xue Zining heard a faint sound and her eyes snapped open. In the moonlight, she saw the bolt moving bit by bit. Xue Yan stood at the door.
Xue Zining got out of bed, her movements extremely light. Her eyes asked Xue Yan a question. Xue Yan shook her head and whispered, “This servant just woke up.”
Xue Zining pointed outside. Xue Yan nodded. The bolt suddenly fell to the ground, and the door was pushed open. Xue Yan stepped forward and caught the person, pinning them under her foot.
“Mercy, woman hero, mercy!”
The candlelight was lit, and Xue Zining saw the person under Xue Yan’s foot. It was the inn's waiter.
“Running an inn, taking the guests’ money, and then trying to extort more in secret? That’s quite a calculation.” Xue Zining’s expression turned cold.
The waiter quickly begged for mercy, “Woman hero, spare my life. This humble one only had evil intentions because you are both women. I wouldn’t dare to others.”
“Just because they are women you have evil intentions? Women are inherently weak, and you harbor such wicked thoughts? It is truly unforgivable by heaven.” Xue Zining said coldly.
“Madam, send him to the officials!” Xue Yan said.
Xue Zining nodded. “Go!”
Xue Yan dragged the waiter away to be sent to the officials. However, by dawn, Xue Yan had not returned.
Xue Zining’s expression grew increasingly grim. She took Xue Xingchen downstairs and walked out of the inn. “Madam…”
Xue Zining lowered her head and looked at the person speaking. It was the little beggar she had given a coin to yesterday. “Is something wrong?”
“You are looking for your maid, aren’t you?” the little beggar asked.
Xue Zining nodded. “Did you see her?”
The little beggar said, “Your maid must be at the county yamen, right?”
Xue Zining was startled. “What do you mean?”
The little beggar leaned closer and said, “Madam, you may not know, but this inn is a den of thieves, and the proprietor is the county magistrate’s brother.”
Xue Zining said, “If what you say is true, then the county magistrate will not only not punish him but will also make trouble for my maid?”
The little beggar nodded. “Yes.”
“Thank you,” Xue Zining said. If the little beggar hadn’t informed her, she might not have known until much later.
Upon hearing this, the little beggar smiled and said, “You are the first person who hasn’t despised us, so I am doing this willingly.”
Xue Zining reached out and patted the little beggar’s head, asking, “Have you studied?”
The little beggar was slightly taken aback. He lowered his eyes and, after a moment, said, “Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you continue studying?” Xue Zining asked.
The little beggar turned his face away. “Madam, hurry and save your maid!”
Xue Zining stopped asking and headed towards the county yamen with Xue Xingchen.
Xue Yan was now in the county yamen, watching the people surrounding her. She knew that these people were no match for her, but she still tried her best not to cause trouble for His Majesty.
She had not expected the county magistrate to be so audacious as to let someone go and then detain her.
Xue Zining arrived at the entrance of the county yamen and saw the waiter who had entered their room last night walking out of the yamen in a swaggering manner.
Xue Zining was instantly filled with anger. She strode forward and kicked the waiter in the abdomen, saying coldly, “Why are you here?”
The guards outside saw this and rushed over. The waiter rolled on the ground in pain, as Xue Zining had used considerable force.
“There’s no need for such a fuss. I was going to see your county magistrate anyway.” Xue Zining ignored the guards in front of her and walked towards the county yamen.
Feeling a small hand tightly gripping her clothes, she whispered, “Don’t be afraid, mother is here.”
Xue Xingchen felt that she was no longer afraid. With her empress mother here, everything could be easily resolved.
Xue Yan saw Xue Zining and stepped forward, saying, “Madam, why are you here?”
“I was worried about you,” Xue Zining replied.
“Who is below?” The county magistrate was a man with a full beard.
“County Magistrate, you detained my person without distinguishing right from wrong. Do you not wish to continue being the county magistrate?” Xue Zining said coldly.
The county magistrate let out a low cold laugh. “Audacious! To speak such wild words? This county magistrate is doing just fine.”
“You won’t be for long,” Xue Zining said coldly.
“Such a brazen villain, seize them!” the county magistrate shouted.
Xue Yan drew her sword and coldly yelled, “Who dares to move?”
Xue Zining looked at the county magistrate and said coldly, “You have truly reached the end of your tenure as county magistrate. I did not intend to interfere, but now it is impossible not to.”
The county magistrate, hearing this, said angrily, “Madam, do not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. This county magistrate’s affairs are not for a shrew like you to dictate.”
“Isn’t it true that you, County Magistrate, are harboring a criminal and intend to detain my person privately?” Xue Zining asked, her expression icy as she pressed the county magistrate.
The county magistrate laughed heartily. “Here, I am heaven; I am the law.”
“Presumptuous…” Xue Zining said angrily.
“Guards, do not arrest this insolent offender who openly contradicts this county magistrate?”
The soldiers rushed forward to apprehend Xue Zining. Xue Yan, seeing this, drew the sword at her waist and charged at the soldiers. With one sweep, she dealt with several soldiers. After a few moves, some soldiers were injured, and others knelt, but none died.
The county magistrate truly did not expect this woman’s subordinate to be so formidable, taking down all his men in a few moves.
Xue Zining walked forward step by step, arriving before the county magistrate. The clear beauty of her face, her eyes were as clear as the bright moon, like a gurgling stream in the woods. Beneath the clarity was an extreme coldness, like ice and frost that never melted.
The county magistrate involuntarily took a step back and slumped onto his chair. Xue Zining took out the Phoenix Token from her waist and showed it to him. “Look at this.”
The county magistrate trembled all over. The Phoenix Token. Who in the world dared to wield the Phoenix Token? There was only one person, the Empress Dowager.
“You… you are…”
“I am,” Xue Zining said word by word.
The county magistrate completely collapsed onto his chair, his face pale. Xue Zining said coldly, “Do you not kneel when you see me?”
The county magistrate slid off his chair and prostrated himself on the ground, begging for mercy. “Your humble servant Xu Hai Dong greets Your Majesty.”
“You are indeed guilty…” Xue Zining said coldly as she walked towards the county magistrate’s seat.
The county magistrate shivered with fear. “Your Majesty, spare my life, Your Majesty, spare my life!”
The other soldiers looked at each other, not understanding why their county magistrate was bowing to a woman, even calling her Majesty.
“Lord Xu…” At this moment, some troops rushed in from outside.
Xue Zining narrowed her eyes. He had even summoned the garrison troops.
The young general leading them looked at the kneeling Xu Hai Dong and said coldly, “Lord Xu, what is the meaning of this?”
Seeing the young general, the county magistrate Xu Hai Dong’s eyes darted around. He suddenly stood up and pointed at Xue Zining, saying, “General Gu, she is impersonating His Majesty…”
General Gu turned his head and looked at the woman seated in the place of honor.