As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 406 My Husband is a Hero of Unparalleled Power
When the county magistrate arrived, the surrounding people reacted with varying expressions.

This county magistrate was quite capable, but he allowed the Chen family to cause trouble and oppress the local people.

While it's fair to say he wasn't strong, Yangling City under his rule has actually been quite good over the years.

Humans are fickle and are never defined by absolute good or evil, but rather fall somewhere in between.

Mingchen raised an eyebrow and asked the other person in a cold voice, "Are you the magistrate of this place?"

He had completely lost all the gentleness he had shown when facing the people.

Officials have many faces.

They act one way in front of the public and another way when facing their subordinates.

Sometimes it's about showing kindness, and sometimes it's about displaying power and authority.

Zhao Minghe trembled, glanced at Chen Yuehao who was beheaded beside him, and then knelt down on the ground with a shudder: "My lord, this humble official... this humble official Zhao Minghe greets Lord Ming."

However, before his body could land, he was lifted up by an unnamed force.

Mingchen rolled his eyes at him: "Officials of our Great Qian should have some backbone. Why are you kneeling before me? Are you trying to harm me?"

Zhao Minghe trembled and stammered, "This humble official dares not, this humble official dares not!"

This mess can end here. Mingchen was too lazy to waste words with him. He simply pointed to Chen Yuehao, whom he had personally killed, and asked, "Do you know about the Chen family? Tell the truth!"

Although Mingchen was excessively young, no one could see into his heart; on the contrary, his eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts.

It's a blessing, not a curse, but it's a curse that cannot be avoided.

Zhao Minghe's eyes darted around, and he finally sighed softly, "Reporting to Your Excellency, this humble official...this humble official understands."

Mingchen raised an eyebrow and asked him, "Accepting bribes, condoning local tyrants to wreak havoc in the countryside, exploiting the people, and colluding with them—according to the laws of our dynasty, do you know what crime you should be charged with?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Minghe trembled, his legs went weak, and he hurriedly pleaded with Mingchen, "My lord, my lord, I'm innocent! I swear to heaven, I have never received the slightest favor from the Chen family, it's just that he..."

Being a local grassroots official is not easy.

Especially those families in the territory that are not easy to mess with.

Ever since Mingchen rose to prominence, the Chen family, who had even the slightest connection with him, have become incredibly arrogant. They didn't actually offer Zhao Minghe any bribes, but instead boasted about their family's relationship with Mingchen, thus becoming the local tyrant of Yangling City.

My Chen family is backed by Mingchen, why would I need to give face to a mere county magistrate like you?

Zhao Minghe was also helpless.

Rules and laws are one thing, but what if some people are the very rules and laws?

The Chen family may not be particularly powerful, but they have connections with Mingchen!

What if they really do have a close relationship with Mingchen, or even that this family's actions were instructed by Mingchen?

After all, this is a society based on personal connections. There are very few honest and upright officials. Most people are constantly expanding their power and influence, taking root in the country, and continuously absorbing energy and wealth to strengthen their families.

The political inertia left by the previous dynasty is very strong; many officials from the previous dynasty have done this before, and it's not uncommon.

If the Chen family were to anger them and report it to Mingchen, the Duke could easily wipe out Zhao Minghe with a single word.

Seeing the Chen family rise to power and act arrogantly, he, as the county magistrate, could only turn a blind eye.

Those who are pragmatic are considered heroes, and those who are upright and incorruptible may live on in history, but many more die in obscurity.

When one person attains the Tao, the chicken and the dog ascend to heaven.

That's just how reality is; no matter how far civilization develops, this kind of thing may never change.

Mingchen gave Zhao Minghe a deep look, and naturally understood the difficulties this minor official faced.

Even a cunning old fox like Zhang Boxing had to compromise with the local gentry and gradually eliminate them through various means.

There are many mediocre people and few heroes in this world.

Zhao Minghe is just an ordinary person. Someone else might not have done a better job, and we can't ask more of him.

Mingchen glanced at the setting sun on the horizon, then waved his hand and said, "I don't want to hear any more words. You should atone for your sins. The Chen family has no connection with me, and even if we did, I wouldn't allow them to act so recklessly. Whether it's black or white, we'll follow the rules."

“Whatever wrong this family committed, they should be convicted of whatever crime they deserve, executed or imprisoned as appropriate... not a single one should be spared.”

"Once this matter is handled properly, I will report it to my superiors and personally oversee the matter."

His time is very precious.

I don't even have enough time to spend with my family! I have to come out and deal with all this mess.

He wouldn't interfere, he just said that to scare Zhao Minghe and make him do something better.

"Yes, Your Excellency!"

Even now, Zhao Minghe still doesn't know what Mingchen is thinking.

Is Mingchen truly selfless and devoted to the country and its people?

Seeing the Chen family becoming increasingly unrestrained, ignorant, and arrogant, fearing they might bring trouble upon themselves someday, they decided to simply discard this filthy glove and nip it in the bud?
Regardless of what kind of person Mingchen really is or what he's thinking.

Anyway, his attitude is now clear: the Chen family is doomed.

Mingchen ordered him to do this well, and if he did it well... he could save Zhao Minghe's life.

After a moment's thought, he quickly bowed to Mingchen and said, "This humble official will handle it properly."

Upon hearing this, Mingchen simply nodded slightly: "Mm!"

……

In just a few words, the fate of a family was decided.

The horse-drawn carriage sped along the road.

Old Ming looked at his carefree son and fell silent for a moment.

This was the first time he had seen his son in front of the county magistrate, and the first time he had seen him kill someone.

Despite knowing that the child's journey has been arduous and that the ascent to power and status is destined to be fraught with bloodshed.

But seeing it with my own eyes still left me shocked.

He couldn't reconcile the mischievous child he had watched grow up with that cold-faced Duke.

"Father, this is how things should be handled."

"If there's anything, just go directly to the officials to handle it; there's no need for you to come in person."

"You're giving people a chance, but they might not appreciate it or listen to you."

I don't even know who the son is anymore, and who the father is.

Mingchen lectured his father without any reservations.

Old Ming: ……

He paused, then turned to Mingchen and asked, "How could you personally kill Chen Yuehao in the street?"

Mingchen raised an eyebrow and asked in return, "What, Father, do you think I was too ruthless? That this family member should be spared?"

To make an example of someone, if Mingchen hadn't seen it, then there would be more to say.

But now that we've seen it with our own eyes, the Chen family absolutely cannot be allowed to live.

Building a reputation is incredibly difficult, but destroying it is extremely easy.

This is absolutely not going to happen!

Let alone the fact that the Chen family and the Ming family have a distant relationship, even if they were truly close, as long as they are not people that Ming Chen cares about, he would still have to make a tough decision.

Old Ming was taken aback, then gently shook his head: "Chen'er, let alone the Chen family, even if it's your uncles and aunts... if they did such a thing, it's fine for you to have them arrested."

"Now that you have taken the position of Duke, you need to be careful in everything you do and restrain your temper."

"Killing someone in the street and letting the news get out would be bad."

"Besides, what if the Chen family becomes desperate and resorts to desperate measures?"

Mingchen's current ecological niche means he no longer needs to do anything personally. He only needs to ask, and plenty of people will rush to do it for him.

The Chen family only had some kinship with the Ming family in their grandfather's generation. Chen Yuehao had met Old Ming when he was young and visited him a few times during the Chinese New Year, but that was all.

Old Ming doesn't care how many people in the Chen family have died, even if the lineage is wiped out.

He was very clear about who was more important, relatives or his own flesh and blood.

Throughout, all he cared about was his son.

He simply couldn't bear to see his child kill someone in the street, fearing even the slightest harm to his child.

No parent wants to see their child's hands stained with blood.

I recently heard that the Chen family is arrogant and domineering, using Mingchen's name to bully and oppress the villagers in the nearby county town.

The reason he went to this place was to protect his child within his power.

He usually keeps a low profile and rarely goes out for drinks with friends. He has almost completely cut off contact with many relatives and friends, just in case something like this happens.

My son holds a very high position in the capital, which will inevitably attract countless prying eyes and jealousy.

The higher the position, the more formidable the enemies.

A phoenix flew out of the pheasant's nest. Old Ming, the pheasant, couldn't help his phoenix son in any way, but he didn't want to hold him back in the slightest.

Mingchen was taken aback upon hearing this.

From childhood to adulthood, the father and son constantly argued.

Mingchen is mischievous and naughty, while Lao Ming glares and puffs out his cheeks – that's how the two get along.

Although we know we care for each other, we rarely have such tender moments.

For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

He was actually much safer than Lao Ming imagined, and his abilities were also much stronger than Lao Ming imagined.

His monarch is his wife, and the things Old Ming fears will never happen.

Moreover, after a while, he will have no more titles to bestow or rewards to give.

Xiao Xinyue estimated that the rewards would soon fall on his parents.

He smiled, offered no rebuttal, and simply said to his father, "I understand."

"Father, Mother, don't worry too much. I'm perfectly stable in the court. You can do whatever you want!"

"I've become a Duke, yet you're all living worse than before! Doesn't that just invite criticism and accusations of being unfilial?"

Mingchen's reputation is both an honor and perhaps a burden.

The Ming family's life during this period has not been as comfortable as it was before Ming Chen became famous.

However, upon hearing this, Old Ming smiled and said, "How come it's not as good as before?"

He patted Mingchen on the shoulder: "My son is a Duke of the Imperial Court. I'm so happy I can't sleep at night!"

The rare moment of warmth seemed somewhat unsettling for both father and son.

After exchanging a few words, both sides fell silent.

Mingchen pointed outside the carriage and said, "I'm going to say a few words to that girl."

"Um... let's go then~"

Old Ming didn't know what to say either.

Without even asking the girl what happened, he let Mingchen leave.

Watching his child's departing figure, Old Ming lowered his eyes and smiled, only sighing, "That child."

Memories flooded back, and tears welled up in her eyes.

……

"Husband, have you finished talking with your father-in-law?"

Mingchen had just stepped out of the carriage when he heard a light, melodious female voice.

The sky had already darkened, and the last rays of sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves of the large trees along the roadside.

At first glance, the most eye-catching thing is not the pretty girl.

It was the mount beneath her.

It was unclear what breed it was, but it resembled a deer, though smaller than a galloping horse. Its fur was a deep blue, shimmering in the dim light. A pair of large, intertwined antlers grew on its head, which looked as if they had been there for many years, with some green vines and leaves growing on them, exuding a natural and ancient aura.

There was no saddle on its back, and the pure and innocent Taoist girl held a whisk and looked at Mingchen with a smile.

She didn't straddle the deer; instead, she sat sideways, as if she might fall off at any moment. Yet, no matter how fast the deer galloped, she remained firmly seated.

"I've finished talking, so I came to see you."

While she was looking at Mingchen, Mingchen was also sizing her up.

Mingchen is surrounded by many beautiful women, each with their own unique charm, making comparison impossible.

The girl in front of me was indeed beautiful, with an oval face, big eyes, and excessively fair skin.

Bathed in the setting sun, those eyes seemed like talking gems, sparkling gently. They weren't alluring, but clear and pure, possessing a beauty untouched by worldly concerns. Such a quality was hard to find, even purer than that of Long Lian, a thousand-year-old shut-in.

"Cuckoo~"

The girl giggled and met Mingchen's gaze with confidence: "How am I, my husband?"

This was also the first time Mingchen had encountered a beautiful woman who immediately called him "husband".

However, her eyes were excessively clear and ethereal, innocent and naive, untouched by the ways of the world. Mingchen couldn't see in her the deep, boundless affection for his older sister, the little bird, His Majesty... even less than that for Hong Ling Shuang.

This is only natural.

After all, this was only their first meeting.

If the other person is head over heels in love, Mingchen would find it strange.

"My wife is extremely beautiful, a rare beauty in the world!"

When someone calls him, Mingchen shamelessly responds, completely unconcerned, and praises them with a smile.

He's always been like this; his words carry little weight. He's a playboy, dissolute and unrestrained.

What you say doesn't matter, and emotional value is meaningless.

Ultimately, a title is just a title.

Only he himself knows the boundaries in his own heart.

Mingchen then asked, "May I ask why you have come to find me, my lady?"

"Didn't I tell you? My master gave me an order that I have a predestined marriage and that I should go down the mountain to find it."

The girl clenched her fist and said excitedly, "He told me that my husband is a peerless hero who turned the tide and is famous throughout the world."

Mingchen smiled and waved his hand: "You flatter me, you flatter me. I am just an opportunist and cannot be called a hero."

The girl's eyes sparkled, her clear gaze filled with his image: "You are~"

Well, beauty is poison.

What truly captivates the heart may not necessarily be a shapely figure or whispered sweet nothings.

"May I ask who your master is, my lady?"

“Master said that he met with you not long ago, and you will know once he tells you.”

"Oh?"

(End of this chapter)