She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

But her anger was drowned out by the loud noise of the crowd.

I'm even angrier!

"I'm going to kill him! Kill him!"

As Shiyihe pondered how to convey the young lady's message to his master, he looked up and saw that his master's gaze was fixed on the young lady, realizing that the magistrate wouldn't survive the day.

Inside the teahouse.

The salted pig's trotter struggled to his feet, clutching his bruised and purple face, and complained to the magistrate: "Your Honor! These lowly outsiders dare to humiliate the great philanthropist you personally praised! They clearly look down on you! You must do me justice!"

The magistrate, displaying his official authority, shouted: "Who's causing trouble here? Step forward and face me!"

Shi An tapped the scabbard of his sword against the railing on the second floor.

The magistrate looked up and met Shi An's cold gaze. His eyelids twitched; it was the look of an assassin, the look he had seen in the eyes of desperate criminals.

The one beside the other was the real master; his clothes were obviously very expensive, and his aura and temperament were extraordinary, clearly indicating that he was a young master from a wealthy family.

They're like a fat sheep delivered right to our doorstep!

"Master Yuan, a truly benevolent man, donates money and silver to the people every year. You dare to bully him? You are going against the county magistrate! Arrest you all and throw you in jail for three months!"

If you want to be exempt from military service, you have to pay a bribe.

Don't even think about getting out of prison without spending three to five thousand taels!

"This magistrate will see who dares to be so arrogant!"

Upon receiving the order, the constables drew their swords and rushed upstairs.

Shi An stood at the top of the stairs and kicked them all down with a single foot.

Bang bang bang!

Glug glug glug!

Hats and long knives were scattered all over the stairs!

It was both pathetic and foolish.

The crowd of onlookers were stunned, then burst into laughter: "Hahahaha!"

"You! You are utterly outrageous!"

The county magistrate's two small mustaches almost flew off. As a seventh-rank official, he was practically the only one who could do anything in the local area, especially in places far from the prefecture, where he was practically a local emperor.

When have I ever been treated with such disrespect?

The salted pig's trotter fanned the flames: "Sir! You are the ruler of our county! These outsiders dare to hit you today, tomorrow they'll dare to kill and set fires in your jurisdiction!"

"If the people here are harmed, and word gets out, you'll likely lose your official position!"

The county magistrate doesn't care whether the common people are injured or killed, but if these outsiders attract an investigation from higher authorities, that would be a big deal!

The magistrate, startled and enraged, drew a long sword, lifted his official robe, and charged forward, shouting, "I, the magistrate, want to see if you notorious bandits dare to harm an official of the imperial court!"

Shi An blocked the stairwell.

Just as the magistrate was about to strike, he pulled out a token from his pocket and held it up in front of the magistrate's eyes: "Open your dog eyes and see clearly!"

The magistrate's anger froze when he vaguely saw the character "镇" (zhen, meaning town/town) on the token.

The only place that can have the character "镇" (zhen, meaning town/town) engraved on a token is the "镇抚司" (zhenfusi, meaning town/township office) in the capital, the confidant office of the regent. Seven years ago, it was the confidant office of the late emperor!

Those who can carry a gold token are at least Tongzhi, a fourth-rank official!

That's three ranks higher than him, a seventh-rank county magistrate.

Most importantly, this fourth-rank official could only serve as a guard by that young master's side. What is his status? Do we even need to guess?

The long sword in his hand clattered onto the stairs, and he shakily reached out and grasped the token, examining it carefully.

When the dragon on the token came into view, the fear and despair that had filled him with the desire to kill someone turned into a deep shock. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to his knees.

It was the middle of summer, yet he felt as if he had fallen into an icy hell, shivering uncontrollably: "This humble official greets Your Highness the Regent!"

The Regent!?

The crowd surrounding the teahouse, packed three or four deep, stared blankly, for they had never seen an official higher than a seventh-rank county magistrate.

They knew the Regent was a figure only one head shorter than the Emperor, a man they wouldn't even dare to discuss in ordinary conversation.

But for such an important person to suddenly appear and be treated as a joke by them, how can it be described as nothing more than horror?

They all knelt down on the ground, prostrating themselves, not daring to breathe.

The man with the salted pig's trotter, not expecting such a dramatic turn of events, froze on his face with all his smugness and arrogance: "The...The Regent?"

Xiao Che glanced at him and casually gave the order: "An Songzan, the magistrate of Anyang County, colluded with merchants and oppressed the people, fabricating countless wrongful cases. The evidence is conclusive, and his crimes are unforgivable. Execute him on the spot."

The magistrate was so frightened he almost lost his soul.

But before his soul could even fly away, blood had already splattered everywhere.

His upper body, which had been raised like a cobra, suddenly lost its strength and tumbled down the stairs with a thud.

It rolled right up to the foot of the salted pig's trotter.

The impact was too great; the salted pig's trotter rolled his eyes back and fainted.

boom!

He hit the back of his head on the threshold.

Jiang Ruining, standing outside the door, felt a jolt in her heart: "Even if he doesn't die, he'll have a concussion!"

And there's more!

He just revealed his identity like that?

Aren't you afraid that if the Empress Dowager and the Cui family find out, they will send assassins to kill him?

Xiao Che's cold, emotionless voice methodically relayed his orders: "Issue my oral decree that the Ministry of Personnel select a suitable candidate to take over within three days, and that the collusion between officials and merchants be thoroughly eradicated!"

Shi An accepted the order: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will immediately send a message to the capital!"

Ordinary people had never seen such a scene before. The dignified county magistrate, who dared not resist oppression, was killed just like that. Who among them wasn't trembling like a leaf in fear?

But when they heard that the regent was going to deal with the collusion between officials and merchants and the exploitation of the people, they were all excited and looking forward to it!

Seeing footsteps coming down from upstairs, people quickly moved their knees to make way.

Shi'an was the first to go downstairs.

She stomped on the hand that Jiang Ruining had tried to molest: "What kind of thing is this, daring to lay a hand on someone important!"

With a burst of effort.

Clatter!

It's broken!

The unconscious salted pig's hand trembled violently, but did not wake up.

Jiang Ruining: "..." She was in a deep coma.

The others crouched even lower.

Those who were just mocking the young man for offending a great philanthropist and saying he was courting death were now huddled in a corner, trembling.

Xiao Che went downstairs and out the door, his gaze falling on Jiang Ruining's face.

Jiang Ruining, having stopped watching the spectacle with an expression of amusement, gave a fake smile and turned to leave.

Xiao Che: "..."

I took a deep breath.

With a hint of gritted teeth and helplessness, he said, "I've really spoiled her too much!"

Shi An said, "If you don't indulge him, there will always be a suitor who wants to marry you and is willing to indulge him."

Xiao Che's cool gaze was like a silencing agent: "If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute!"

Shi An covered his mouth and sensibly gestured "please" in the direction Jiang Ruining left.

The steps were laid out before Xiao Che, who stepped onto them and followed Jiang Ruining.