The Anarchic Consort

“Every year, the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs of the imperial court has expressly stipulated in writing that the salaries of officials are determined according to their positions,” Baili Jia Jue said in a calm tone with the corner of his mouth slightly raised, yet no warmth could be felt. “Lord Liao, you are just a little magistrate, how did you manage to let your son wear brocade garment worth more than 100 silver per piece?”

Magistrate Liao’s finger was shaking slightly. He tried to intimidate him with his official position and said, “Private Advisor Long, I’m talking to Young Master Chen, not you, where do you think you…”

“Answer my question!” Baili Jia Jue interrupted him with his cold voice. His eyes sent chills down Magistrate Liao’s spine; it was so cold that it could almost freeze his skin.

At that instant, Magistrate Liao could actually sense the fear that he had never felt before…

Governor Chen observed Baili Jia Jue’s expression and finally affirmed the assumption he had in his mind. The prince does not want to expose his identity yet, so I need to control my emotions too.

It was very important to predict what the person of higher rank was thinking about. Governor Chen was trying his best to act naturally in front of Baili Jia Jue, at least he should not expose anything…

“Liao, do you know who you’re talking…” On the other hand, Chen Liang could not take it anymore, he wanted to reach out and lift Magistrate Liao off the ground.

Governor Chen quickly pulled him back and spoke calmly, “Lord Liao, you better answer everything and omit no detail when you are asked any questions by the private advisor in the imperial court.”

Since the governor of three provinces had spoken personally, Magistrate Liao definitely had to give an answer. He did his best to put up a smile on his face as he said, “Lord Chen, you should know as well, I’m not a capable man. Normally, I like to do business to maintain the livelihood of my family. Besides, my son’s uncle has always spoiled him, he would give present to this kid whenever he has something good.”

He cleared up all doubts about himself with the simple word ‘present’.

Baili Jia Jue raised the corner of his thin lips. “Magistrate Liao said it’s a present, but from what I’ve investigated, Magistrate Liao sent in the emergency funds for Fuping County into your personal bank on the first day you received the funds. What Young Master Liao is wearing right now is bought with those silvers, how can that be considered as a gift?”

“What emergency funds? I have no idea what you’re talking about!” Magistrate Liao was obviously afraid of being found out as he uttered that. He kept rolling his eyes from left to right, his heart filled with surprise. He thought he had done it in complete secrecy, how did he even find out about this then?

Baili Jia Jue laughed and said, “You don’t know? Perhaps Magistrate Liao would like me to help you recollect your memory?”

Despite the hint of a smile around the corner of his mouth, his expression was so cold that Magistrate Liao could feel a terrible restlessness swept over him.

Governor Chen turned around to glare at him, his eyes were filled with fury. “The emergency funds? You meddled with the emergency funds!?”

Governor Chen only thought that Magistrate Liao was at most acting recklessly and blindly just now, but now he was of the opinion that this man absolutely deserved to die!

“Does law even exist in your eyes!” Governor Chen used to be a general, he was normally good at controlling his temper so that he would not cause any trouble to the Retired Emperor. However, he flew into a rage as soon as he heard that Magistrate Liao had misused the emergency funds. He lifted his leg and kicked Magistrate Liao directly!

Magistrate Liao was defenseless, he felt pain in his left leg as he knelt on the ground!

Young Master Liao opened up his arms to defend in front of Magistrate Liao as he said to Governor Chen, “Lord Chen, we can talk about this, we can talk about this!”

“Talk about what!” Chen Liang interrupted. “It was you who ran into my boss in the provincial capital, you even apologized to my boss on the spot. But now that we are in Fuping County, you actually dare to make false counter-charge against boss! People from the Liao family are the same, both shameful and disgusting! You’re like bed bugs that will jeopardize the people! You are full of lies and have a false benevolence, it’s considered merciful if you only get a beat up!”

The crowd went enraged as well upon hearing that.

“Asking for compensation after running into someone? It’s the first time I’ve seen someone being so shameless!”

“It’s simply because Lord Wei seems to be a poor man with no background, they think they could easily bully him! Look at those imperial officials from the provincial capital, they are so well in shielding the Liao guy. They are totally planning to gang up and frame Lord Wei so that they can put Lord Wei in jail!”

“Is the God blind? How did these people even become the local magistrates? All the good people almost die in their hands! They owe Lord Wei an explanation on this issue!”

“That’s right! You must give Lord Wei an explanation!”

“Governor!” Liu Yin who was standing in the crowd opened her mouth, “I heard that you specialize in speaking up against injustice and serving justice to common people in the name of the Retired Emperor. Right now, there are people who not only ignore the laws and are corrupted but also tried to murder an official. Will you handle this matter now that there are so many of them? Will you give us, commoners an answer?”

As her words settled in, not only did the face of the father and son from the Liao family turn pale, but even the faces of the four imperial officials from the provincial capital lost colors. Each of them was flustered and tried to explain themselves, “Lord Chen…”

What they were thinking in their mind was that, even if Lord Chen is the governor of three provinces, he can’t punish all of them at the same time. He has to balance this out from the perspective of the officials in the court from all aspects as those of higher ranks will definitely be dissatisfied if he overdoes it.

However, what they never expected was that he would actually give an order to arrest all of them!

“Governor Chen, are you not afraid that you will offend someone by doing so?” One of the imperial officials growled, “You have no scruples about arresting us? The elders wouldn’t agree with this.”

Out of their expectations, Governor Chen did not even care about the elders this time. He uttered three plain words, “Take them away.”

All the imperial officials were more or less dazzled at this moment.

It doesn’t work even if they bring out the elders?

Who actually gives such big power to Governor Chen?

The imperial officials could not think of an answer.

Young Master Liao straight away turned hostile. “Chen, I was just speaking humbly and under my breath to flatter you, so that you can save your reputation, how daring of you to lock me up! Just you wait!”

They have seriously never seen someone so arrogant before.

Almost everyone had heard Young Master Liao’s threatening last words.

Magistrate Liao was the steadiest and calmest among all of them, he still had a plan in his mind at the moment when his hands were cuffed up.

As long as they do not commit any murders, the people of higher rank will not just stand by and watch him die like this.

It makes no difference even if the other party is the governor of three provinces.

However powerful the governor of three provinces is, can he be more powerful than the four elders in the Capital?

Wei is simply relying on the support of Chen, there is still a chance to turn over the case when they are sent to the Capital…

He shall see who will be the true winner when the time comes!

The other four imperial officials were thinking about the same thing too. Hence, the moment they were locked in the cells, they started sending commands remotely to their men to set up all kinds of activity, asking them to deliver money to the right place. It was for the sole purpose of teaching Helian Wei Wei and the others a lesson when they made it back to the Capital!