Chapter 534: Chapter 534: From Second Rank!

The crowd in front of the Li Family’s jade shop fell silent as Prefect Zhao’s words resonated, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

A moment later, Xu Chun, who had forgotten to breathe, suddenly snapped back to his senses, Vice Admiral!

Just now, Prefect Zhao had called Li Sui Vice Admiral.

The rank of Admiral is second grade, and a Vice Admiral is just below second grade!

Li Sui is a senior official of the court holding a second-grade rank!

How is that possible!

Prefect Zhao’s words made his scalp tingle and his hair stand on end.

Even Chief Li was so shocked by Lord Zhao’s words that his legs gave way, and the two constables behind him had to support him.

Li Sui had actually become a Vice Admiral of the court, ranked just below second grade!

Although the townspeople didn’t know the exact rank of a Vice Admiral, judging by Prefect Zhao’s respectful attitude, Li Sui had certainly become a high-ranking official!

The neighbors who knew Li Sui were ecstatic! Now that someone from their street had become a high-ranking official, they would no longer be bullied!

Mr. Li and Mrs. Li looked at their son in amazement; had Li Sui gone to the palace and become an official?

The elderly couple controlled their joy and respectfully saluted Lord Zhao.

Lord Zhao immediately helped them up, “There’s no need, there’s no need, Mr. Li is the Vice Admiral of the navy, an official of the second-ranked court, and as his parents, you shouldn’t be saluting me. As a junior, I should be saluting you two!”

With that, Zhao Xin saluted Mr. Li and Mrs. Li.

Mr. Li and Mrs. Li, excitedly returned the salute to Lord Zhao. They were just ordinary people and could never have imagined that their son would become a Vice Admiral in the court’s navy!

Their son’s position was even higher than Prefect Zhao’s; someone who had once been imprisoned could still become a senior court official. Tears welled up in Mr. Li’s eyes; even if he died and reached the afterlife, he could proudly tell his ancestors that his son was not a bad person, but an upstanding and righteous man!

Prefect Zhao’s words were like a heavy hammer striking Xu Chun’s head, causing his pupils to contract rapidly and cold sweat to break out all over his body.

The impoverished Li Sui had actually become a Vice Admiral of the navy!

Below second grade!

Now, with just a light movement of his fingers, Li Sui could make him disappear from Ding’an City.

A few ruffians, hearing about Li Sui’s official position, trembled uncontrollably, prostrating themselves on the ground.

They had offended someone they shouldn’t have, and Li Sui surely wouldn’t let them off.

Chief Li looked grave, his body seemingly drained of strength, and the constables behind him all had their expressions change abruptly.

It was over for them; they had previously been accomplices of Xu Chun, offending Li Sui.

The townspeople, upon hearing that Li Sui’s position was actually below second grade, were so excited some wiped away their tears, while others straightened their backs and smiled.

For them, even having someone from their family working in the court was a huge honor. Now, among their neighbors, there was actually a senior court official of the second grade!

This was such a glorious event for them.

Li Sui nodded towards Lord Zhao, “Lord Zhao, my parents run a small business on this street, making a living honestly and decently. Please investigate this matter thoroughly and handle it impartially.”

“Yes, I will certainly handle it impartially,” Lord Zhao looked towards Chief Li, “Speak, what is actually going on?”

Chief Li’s voice quivered, “M-My Lord, I happened by this place today and indeed saw a jade porcelain cup at the Li Family’s. This porcelain cup had patterns of moon patterns, which are items from the palace. The Li Family has always conducted their business honestly, and since it was reported by Xu Chun, I find this matter suspicious and planned to bring the jade porcelain cup back to hand over to you, for you to decide.”

His words laid out the facts while standing with Mr. and Mrs. Li.

Xu Chun’s chest heaved furiously, the veins on his forehead throbbing. He finally understood why Chief Li sided with the Li Family; it was because he had known in advance that Li Sui became a high-ranking court official!

A heartless man, taking his money, eating his food, and when things went wrong, he didn’t side with him at all. Chief Li, in order to protect himself, even betrayed his friend.

Xu Chun’s eyes darted as he quickly thought of a plan. The only way to resolve this matter was to put all the blame on Chief Li, as he still held some leverage over him and could use it to threaten him.

Raising his eyes, seemingly extremely aggrieved, Xu Chun’s eyes welled up with tears, patting his chest and saying, “Chief Li, what does this have to do with me! Don’t falsely accuse an innocent man!”

He cast a warning glance at Chief Li, thinking to himself: If it comes to that today, even at the risk of mutual destruction, even if being held accountable, he would drag Chief Li down with him, so that no one would have it easy!

Chief Li felt a twinge of guilt, as Xu Chun held some leverage over him. If it came to mutual destruction, it would actually not benefit him.

He said in a deep voice, “Lord Zhao, this is all that I saw. As for any personal grudge between Xu Chun and the Li Family, I know nothing about it.”

He was caught in a dilemma, not wanting to offend Li Sui nor wanting to push Xu Chun too hard.

Suddenly, Li Sui let out a cold laugh, “Falsely accuse an innocent man? This morning before leaving, I placed some blue paint on my own window sill. Should anyone climb in through the window, they’d certainly leave some traces. Lord Zhao, please come with me to take a look.”

“Yes.” Zhao Xin followed along.

Xu Chun was greatly alarmed; his jade shop was right opposite the Li Family’s, and he had overheard Li Sui telling his parents that his own window wouldn’t close and that he’d go buy some nails the next day when he had time.

This gave him the idea to have someone sneak into the Li Family’s jade shop to frame them.

He never expected Li Sui to have been prepared for this all along, it seemed the story of the window not shutting was purposely meant for him to hear.

Soon, Lord Zhao followed Li Sui out of the room, and Zhao Xin addressed the crowd, “There was indeed an intruder in the Li Family’s jade shop, and there’s a clear footprint.”

Li Sui’s gaze remained fixed on one of the ruffians behind Xu Chun, and he suddenly noticed one among them glance subconsciously at his own foot.

“It was him!” Li Sui stepped forward and firmly pinned the rascal down.

The rascal’s knees buckled as Li Sui’s powerful hand pressed down on him, and he collapsed to his knees, revealing blue paint at the edge of his soles.

“My Lord, spare me, it was Xu Chun, he instructed me, he told me to place a jade porcelain cup in the Li Family’s jade shop for a hundred taels of silver.” The rascal kneeled trembling on the ground as if sifting chaff.

Xu Chun’s face turned deathly pale; he had offended a senior court official of the second rank, and only now did he truly feel afraid. His legs gave way, and he kneeled, crawling in front of Li Sui to plead for mercy, “Lord Vice Admiral, I was too blind to see the mountains, I was merely jealous of your family’s thriving business. Considering we’re all neighbors, spare me, please.”

“Spit!” someone spat at Xu Chun.

“Despicable man!” someone shouted angrily.

With Li Sui as their support, the townspeople grew bolder, releasing previously pent-up emotions they dared not express.

Zhao Xin sternly questioned, “Xu Chun, I ask you, who gave you the jade porcelain cup from the palace?”

Upon the mention of the jade porcelain cup, Xu Chun’s face changed dramatically.

Suddenly, in the distance, wheels rumbled, and everyone turned to look at the two approaching horse-drawn carriages.