CHAPTER 332: CHAPTER 332: LE’AN COUNTY MAGISTRATE

"Put this man in jail!" Zhu Fu pointed at Zhao Ting and ordered the Government Official, "As for the two young ladies, please follow me. Rest assured, I have always been someone who cares for beauty, I definitely won’t wrong the two young ladies."

"You want to imprison someone before even holding a trial, you disregard the law!" Meng Yao reprimanded.

"The law? It’s your first time here, young lady, you probably aren’t familiar with the rules of Le’an. Today, let me tell you what the law is in Le’an!" Zhu Fu laughed heartily.

Indeed, such innocent young ladies have no experience with the harshness of the world, did they really think he brought them to the County Government for fair handling?

"Brothers, come, come, come, here’s a chance for you to answer the young ladies’ questions, tell them what the law is in the County Government!"

"In our County Government, Zhu, the arrest officer, your law is the king’s law!"

"Boss, I see these two young ladies are fair and attractive, such beauties shouldn’t stay in the Government Office. You should quickly take them home, right?"

Openly teasing, shows how chaotic things are in this Government Office!

Zhu Fu feigned glaring at that Government Official, "Erhei is still in great pain. As his elder cousin, how can I not care for him? Before taking the two young ladies away, I must understand what they did to Erhei!"

"Young ladies, you can see, there are so many Government Officials here! You know what choice to make, right? If you confess honestly, you won’t suffer."

"Want to know what happened to him?" Meng Yao smiled slightly, "That’s easy, Bai Su, tell them what happened to this person!"

Bai Su nodded, took a step forward in front of Zhu Fu, and said, "He—"

During speaking, Bai Su quickly acted, pinched Zhu Fu’s jaw open, tossed the pill into his mouth, closed his jaw, then patted his throat.

Zhu Fu didn’t even react before the item slid down his throat.

"What, what did you make me eat?" Zhu Fu clawed at his throat, but he couldn’t remove anything.

"Didn’t you ask what happened to him? Feel it yourself, then you’ll know what happened to him!" Bai Su replied with a smile.

Zhu Fu soon felt intensive pain, so much he couldn’t bear it and fell to the ground, rolling around like Zhu Erhei.

Except Zhu Erhei had been struggling for a while, and the rolling was not as strong as Zhu Fu’s.

The other Government Officials looked at Bai Su with doubt and uncertainty.

Zhao Ting freed himself from the two Government Officials holding him.

Not that he looked down on these people, if someone genuinely wanted to occupy the County Government, they should train capable soldiers, instead of using this group of rabble, in a real situation, none of them would be useful.

After living as overlords for so long, they truly believed they were heaven.

"All, all don’t be afraid, we outnumber them, as long as she doesn’t poison us, we’ll be fine!"

"Right, right, right!"

Bai Su smiled, she had played with Poisonous Insects since childhood and had lots of tricks.

"Last chance, we wish to see the County Magistrate," Meng Yao stated.

"Brothers, capture them, force them to give the antidote! Detoxify the boss!"

Bai Su pulled out a porcelain container with many small holes on the lid, "Look carefully!"

Everyone felt as if something flew past their eyes, then they began to feel itchy all over.

Their exposed skin visibly started to swell and redden.

No way anyone could apprehend the three, they were so itchy they couldn’t hold their knives and freed their hands to scratch. But the more they scratched, the itchier they got, unable to put down their hands.

Most times, itching is more torturous than pain.

Finally, someone couldn’t bear it, stammering out that he could take them to see the County Magistrate.

Meng Yao only then knew the noble County Magistrate wasn’t even in the County Government.

Meng Yao signaled Bai Su, who cheerfully withdrew the Poisonous Insects from the person.

"Don’t play any tricks!" Bai Su said with a smile, "Lead us honestly, or it’ll be worse for you than before."

The person shivered, "No dare, no dare."

Zhao Ting, along with Meng Yao, followed him to meet the County Magistrate.

Bai Su stayed behind to watch over these people.

Exiting through the County Government’s back door, crossing two streets, the Government Official stopped in front of a semi-new and old residence.

"This is the County Magistrate’s residence," the Government Official said.

"The County Magistrate doesn’t work on usual days?" Zhao Ting asked.

Years ago when he came here, the then County Magistrate at least stayed at the County Government.

How had it fallen to such a state now?

"There’s not much to do in the County Government, the County Magistrate would go just to sit idly. It’s more comfortable at home. Besides, Zhu Fu makes the decisions anyway," the Government Official said.

"Aren’t you one of the Three Livelihoods’ men?" Zhao Ting inquired.

Addressing Zhu Fu by name, and just now among the people, he was the first to yield.

"No, I just learned some martial arts so I was fortunate to become a Government Official. I haven’t done anything bad, whenever Zhu Fu they take advantage of situations, I never participate. I just run errands for them to earn some monthly salary to support my family," he explained.

"By compromising with us today, to Zhu Fu and them, it’s betrayal, aren’t you afraid?" Zhao Ting asked.

"I—" The small Government Official hesitated, "You aren’t afraid of Zhu Fu, even managed to make him disadvantaged at the County Government, proving you’re capable."

"So?"

"Oppressed by Zhu Fu and them, my life would be this way forever, and the things I wish to do would never be accomplished. Therefore, I want to take a chance. I wonder if you noblemen need a runner familiar with Le’an?"

Zhao Ting laughed, "You’re one of Zhu Fu’s gang, why should I trust you? Who knows if you did this deliberately to lower our guard."

"He won’t."

The residence door before them opened.

A young face appeared before Zhao Ting and Meng Yao.

"Come in," the young man beckoned Zhao Ting and Meng Yao.

"Why won’t he?" Zhao Ting asked.

"The girl he had a childhood engagement with was forcibly taken by Zhu Fu, and couldn’t bear the humiliation, so she jumped into a well. His younger sister was similar, but she’s still alive, however, the trauma was so great her mind is impaired," the young man explained.

The small Government Official’s face was full of anger.

"So, as a Court official, how can you achieve such neglect?" Zhao Ting questioned the young man.

"I am a scholar from a humble background, studied arduously for years, hoping that by passing the exam, I could realize my ambitions. Ultimately, I thought too simply! I brought my long follower and Master to take office, now the Money Master[1] has turned to another. The Criminal Master[2] broke his leg, recovering in his room. With no useful people, what can I do alone, except watch helplessly?"

"So, you just compromised like this?" Zhao Ting asked.

"Sir, it’s easy to talk when standing, isn’t it? Without compromise, do you think I could stand here intact?" The County Magistrate got somewhat angry.

He had parents and family, he studied hard to become an official not to lose his life.

[Note]:

[1] Money Master: Master in charge of financial matters.

[2] Criminal Master: Master responsible for handling legal affairs.