Quick Transmigration: Don't Let an Honest Man Become a Villainous Supporting Female Character

The next day at daybreak, the old gambler was already waiting at the entrance of the county government office.

As soon as the officials arrived at the gate on horseback, the old gambler suddenly knelt down, startling the horse so much that it almost kicked him away.

"My lord, I have something important to tell you!" the old gambler cried as he knelt on the ground.

Lord Shen quickly pulled on the reins, his brows furrowed deeply: "What is it?"

The old gambler glanced furtively around the area and whispered, "The government silver case."

Lord Shen's expression immediately changed. He sized up the old gambler and said calmly, "Let's go inside and talk."

The old gambler quickly followed behind them.

He noticed the puzzled looks from the people around him out of the corner of his eye, and unconsciously straightened his back.

He's different now; he's a great hero. He'll tell the people in the government office about the county magistrate's affairs later, and maybe he can even get a small official position.

"hey-hey……"

Once he becomes an official, countless people will offer him tributes, including so-called "Ninth Master" and "Tenth Master," who will even personally invite him to the casino. He'll live a life of luxury, surrounded by countless maids and servants, even having his meals fed...

The old gambler couldn't help but laugh out loud at the thought of his future happy life.

As soon as he entered the lobby, he was bombarded with questions.

"name?"

The old gambler paused for a moment, then scratched his head: "Old Sixth Sun."

Lord Shen looked at him quietly: "Tell me, what did you see last night?"

The old gambler immediately perked up: "Last night I saw the county magistrate ride away on horseback. I saw it with my own eyes, and I'm not exaggerating!"

Lord Shen showed no surprise, only asking, "How did you know that was the county magistrate?"

The old gambler was furious: "Even if he were ashes, I'd still recognize him! Back then, that county magistrate came to me to confess, but he didn't give me any of the promised benefits, and instead made me take so many lashes for nothing!"

Lord Shen paused for a moment: "You confessed to your crime?"

The old gambler had a bad feeling. He stammered, "I admit it..."

"What crime did you confess to?"

"Stealing government silver..."

Lord Shen raised his head and frowned: "You stole government silver?"

The old gambler suddenly became agitated: "I didn't steal anything before. The county magistrate made me take the blame without giving me any benefits. I was so angry that I... took a piece..."

His voice grew softer and softer.

He stood there anxiously, wondering why this wasn't what he had imagined...

Shouldn't they first invite him to sit down, pour him a cup of hot tea, and then politely ask him about the county magistrate's position? Then he could negotiate with them, and after receiving the money, he could bring up the matter of the county magistrate's position. Afterwards, the people in the prefectural government would be very happy, saying he had performed a great service, and then give him a minor official post.

This is how things should have gone...

Lord Shen was too lazy to look at him anymore: "Go to his room and find that piece of government silver. Lock him up for now."

"Yes, sir." The constable beside him nodded.

The old gambler's face turned pale: "No...it's not like that, sir, I'm here to earn a reward! Even if there's no reward, I can at least make up for my mistake with good deeds..."

The old gambler was taken away by two constables.

"Everything I said is true!" the old gambler cried until his voice was hoarse.

The constable shoved him impatiently: "Shut up!"

This old gambler had stolen his money before... He originally wanted to report it to the authorities, but he was a constable himself, and it would be really shameful to admit that he had been robbed...

After the old gambler was taken to his cell, the lobby fell silent.

Lord Shen looked down and flipped through the account books.

Actually, someone told him last night that the county magistrate was preparing to escape. That person happened to be a minor official who had been with the county magistrate for many years.

When the county magistrate told the clerk not to follow him, the clerk already had a premonition that the magistrate was going to abandon him, so he gritted his teeth and went directly to Lord Shen.

If the county magistrate hadn't fled, the case wouldn't have ended so quickly; but by fleeing, his crimes were now confirmed.

"Lord Shen, what should we do about the county magistrate?" the clerk asked cautiously.

Lord Shen's expression remained unchanged, his eyes lowered: "Embezzlement of government funds is the primary crime, falsifying accounts and framing ordinary people are secondary crimes, and murder to silence witnesses is a separate crime."

"The county magistrate is currently in prison, and there's no one to handle the county affairs. Go and inform the magistrate to send a subordinate official over," Magistrate Shen said. "Be quick."

"Yes, sir."

The news that a new county magistrate was about to arrive in Pingyuan County spread quickly.

The county government office was unusually lively, and even the clerks who used to work there began to feel anxious.

"Go and find out who the new county magistrate is. We need to be prepared for the future."

"I wonder if the new county magistrate is any good..."

Am I the only one worried about our monthly paycheck?

The former county magistrate has been arrested, and the money in the prefecture is under tight control. Will they still be able to receive their monthly wages this month?

The atmosphere immediately became tense upon hearing this.

The constables looked up at the sky with long faces.

The old locust tree outside the window extends into the eaves, casting dappled shadows on the blue brick floor. A faint aroma of tea permeates the room, and teacups occasionally clink softly against the table.

The prefect sat at the head of the table, with some pastries on the tea table.

He lifted the lid of the teacup, brushed aside the tea leaves floating on top, and then lowered his head to smell the aroma of the tea before taking a sip.

Ji Chaoxi watched intently; her family didn't actually drink tea much.

Her father loved drinking well water, especially freshly drawn well water. Whenever he was thirsty, he would huff and puff as he carried a wooden bucket to the well to fetch water.

Her mother loved drinking iced water, and the ice cellar in the mansion was almost entirely used by her alone. Even in winter, she only drank iced water.

After the prefect put down his teacup, Ji Chaoxi also began to study seriously.

First, she lifted the lid, but as soon as Ji Chaoxi touched the lid, she abruptly pulled her fingers back.

"hiss--"

Why is it so hot? Is this for drinking?!

The prefect glanced at her sideways.

The second step was to stir the tea leaves. Ji Chaoxi trembled as she held the scalding hot tea lid and stirred the tea leaves. The lid and teacup kept colliding and making a clanging sound.

"hiss!"

"Hiss... hiss—"

"hot!"

Qin Qiwu, who was standing nearby, was terrified.

Prefect: ...

Fu Xianyan watched from the side with a furrowed brow. He tried to take the teacup from her hand, but her hand kept moving, and Fu Xianyan couldn't grasp the teacup at all.

Fu Xianyan also fell silent; he seemed to have underestimated her agility.

Finally, Ji Chaoxi stirred the tea leaves in the teacup and, imitating the prefect, bent down to smell them. As a result, a wave of hot air hit her face, and her vision was immediately blocked by the mist.

Ji Chaoxi sighed, brought the tea to her lips, and took a very small sip.

"well……"

She was covered in sweat from drinking tea.

The prefect looked at Ji Chaoxi, who was sighing and groaning, and fell silent. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was catching mice.