CHAPTER 445: CHAPTER 439 SCARE YOU TO DEATH

Qiu Wu and the three others moved quietly without making a sound. Zhao Hanzhang had already tiptoed to the side, avoiding the lamp so that her shadow would not appear on the screen.

The people outside the screen were completely unaware that someone had entered the study, and they continued their earnest discussion, "Judging from her previous actions, she is extremely domineering. With her sudden arrival, I’m afraid Gao Cheng is in grave danger."

"Wasn’t the former County Magistrate of Biyang beheaded without a word? Since winter started, she has issued numerous decrees which we in Nanyang Country have refused to follow. I’m afraid this visit won’t end well either."

Another person suggested, "Why not make some pretenses before she arrives, just to send her away without raising issues?"

"That’s not appropriate. Wouldn’t that spread rumors that our Prefectural Governor is afraid of her?"

"It’s not about fear; it’s about avoiding unnecessary disputes. After all, Nanyang Country belongs to Yu State. Even if we disobey her, as the Yu State Governor, we cannot remain indifferent to her decrees."

"Hmph, the court hasn’t recognized her position as Governor."

"If we argue about that, there’s no point in discussing today’s matters. Let’s not argue about titles, only about reality. Whether she is the Yu State Governor or not, or if she can govern Yu State, the reality is, whether it’s the Zhao Family backing her, her troops, or her reputation, no one in Yu State can compete with her. We have to acknowledge her as the Yu State Governor, whether we like it or not!"

Sitting with his back to the screen, Pei He nodded and admitted, "She is the Yu State Governor."

Seeing him acknowledge her, the speaker’s expression improved, and his tone became gentler, "Since she is the ruler of Yu State, we have no choice but to perform some formalities. We must implement her decrees. Regardless of how well we implement them, we need to send her away first."

Pei He said, "I’m afraid she won’t be so easy to handle."

"Yu State has ten prefectures and countries, five internal and five external. Currently, the five internal prefectures heed her orders. Our Nanyang Country is among them. She can’t inspect every county like before, at most, she’ll visit the prefectural city and observe the people’s conditions along the way."

"The opportunity in Xie County has been lost, so we abandon a Gao Cheng, he’s not your man anyway," he said, "We just have to prepare well for Lu Yang County next."

"How do we do that?"

"Starting tomorrow, stop collecting taxes from passing merchants and drive the vagrants lingering outside the city further away, preferably in another direction. If possible, have some people disguise as merchants and wait along the way, when she arrives, we’ll do this..."

Zhao Hanzhang, sitting in the corner of the couch, propped her chin up as she listened to their one, two, three methods of fooling Governor Zhao.

To be honest, she wasn’t surprised at all. Such methods of deception were old tricks from her era.

Oh, no, in the later world, these were considered legacy methods.

It seems that methods of deception have been similar across times, and our predecessors were quite formidable.

She was well-informed, but Qiu Wu and the others weren’t.

The four of them were stunned into silence, continuously looking at the other party. When they saw Zhao Hanzhang’s usual expression without any hint of emotion, they were internally impressed. Truly worthy of being a lady, she remained calm before a collapsing mountain, far more composed than them.

It seems they needed more learning.

The trio discussed for a long time, finally settling on a plan to fool Zhao Hanzhang. After discussing the details, the hour was late, and Pei He personally stood up to see the two advisors out.

He courteously watched them leave from the study door.

Once they had left, he turned to his follower who had been guarding the door, "Go fetch hot water. I will rest here in the study tonight."

"Yes."

Pei He casually closed the door and, somewhat fatigued, headed towards the resting area behind the screen.

Just as he crossed the screen, his body stiffened, heart pounding, pupils involuntarily narrowing intensely, and his limbs turning cold.

Zhao Hanzhang, sitting on the couch, gave him a slight smile and motioned, "County Magistrate Pei, please sit and talk."

As a powerful guard approached, Pei He couldn’t help but take a small step back, cautiously and tentatively asking, "Lord Zhao?"

Zhao Hanzhang nodded with a smile, "Indeed, it is I, Hanzhang. It seems we are fated, for in the hidden moments, I seemed to have sensed County Magistrate Pei’s thoughts of me, so here I am."

Pei He: ...

His face turned pale. When had this person come, and how much had she heard?

No, that’s not right. She didn’t come because she heard him thinking about her; she had clearly intended to intrude into his house. What did she intend to do, assassinate him?

No, if she were going to do such sordid things, she wouldn’t personally come; it would be too beneath her status.

Thinking this, Pei He’s complexion slightly improved.

Qiu Wu simply walked past him, fetched a small stool, placed it across from the wooden couch, and politely stepped back, saying to Pei He, "Please sit."

Pei He: ... This is his home, isn’t it?

But now wasn’t the time to argue about that.

Pei He slowly approached Zhao Hanzhang, taking a seat opposite her, "Lord Zhao visiting so late without any prior notice is indeed a failure on my part to greet you properly."

Zhao Hanzhang nodded with a smile, "It’s alright. I’m not one to fuss over such formalities."

But he was!

In his mind, Pei He screamed, about them not informing him before coming, at least give him a heads-up!

Zhao Hanzhang smilingly said to Pei He, "County Magistrate Pei’s two advisors are quite something. The methods they devised almost made me applaud."

So she did hear everything. Pei He remained expressionless, as he honestly couldn’t muster any expression, and only asked, "How much did Lord Zhao hear?"

"I heard everything," Zhao Hanzhang said thoughtfully. "From the point when you said I was difficult to deal with."

Oh, so she indeed heard it all, as that was when they had just begun.

Pei He became even more expressionless.

Zhao Hanzhang’s smile slightly faded, and she looked at him sharply like an unsheathed sword, speaking in a firm voice, "Pei He, do you know what the responsibility of a Prefectural Governor is?"

Pei He did not speak.

Zhao Hanzhang continued, "To protect a prefecture’s land, benefit its people, and, if able, give back to the State Mansion, give back to the world!"