Chapter 45: Your Official Career Is Over

Clerk Sun was terrified. He didn’t know the background of the woman in front of him and was afraid of saying the wrong thing and getting into trouble.

But the cold, sharp blade was pressed against his neck, and he dared not refuse. “Miss, I’m not responsible for the compensation. I have to go back to the county office and ask the chief clerk.”

“Hmm?” Wang Baochuan narrowed her eyes, her voice threatening.

She might be a bit foolish in matters of love, but she wasn’t easily fooled. After all, she was the daughter of the Prime Minister and had watched her father and brothers handle various affairs since she was a child.

Even if she hadn’t experienced it herself, she wouldn’t be fooled by a clerk’s words.

Clerk Sun trembled in fear, “I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you. It was the county magistrate’s order. I was just following orders.”

“The county magistrate asked you to embezzle the compensation for the deceased soldiers?”

“This… this…” Clerk Sun was sweating profusely. He couldn’t answer yes or no, either way, it would be fatal.

“Wang Wan.” Wang Baochuan stood up, “Take them to the county office and ask them clearly.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Right, take this.” Wang Baochuan threw him a badge.

Wang Wan led the way, escorting Clerk Sun and the others. Wang Baochuan sat in the carriage, with Yang Lishi and her daughter-in-law and child following slowly behind.

Qingqing was anxious, “Miss, this county magistrate is a seventh-rank official after all. Is it appropriate for us to go to his office so openly?”

Although her mistress was the daughter of the Prime Minister, she was just a young lady from a wealthy family, with no official position. It was inappropriate for her to inquire about matters of the court.

Wang Baochuan rested her chin on her hand, staring at the green jade bracelet on Qingqing’s wrist. The white wrist set off the jade, which was a vibrant green, making it look very beautiful.

“Don’t worry.”

When they got off the carriage, Wang Baochuan saw that everyone in the county office was on high alert. Clerk Sun returned to his own territory and immediately became arrogant. He flattered a middle-aged man, his posture so servile that he couldn’t even stand straight.

The middle-aged man was Magistrate Zheng. He stood with his hands on his hips, his eyebrows raised, and asked, “You’re audacious! You’ve trespassed on the court, a crime equivalent to treason!”

“Your Honor, they’re the ones who are audacious. They beat me and a group of constables in Lianzi Village. They’re wicked!” Clerk Sun fanned the flames, whispering in his ear.

Wang Baochuan walked forward slowly, “Your Honor, you’re wrong. We came to appeal for justice, how could we be trespassing?”

Lan’er and Yang Lishi supported each other and stepped forward. They were terrified of the constables. Thinking that Miss Wang was helping them, they mustered their courage and stepped forward to defend themselves, “Yes, Your Honor, my son joined the army and hasn’t returned. I just wanted to ask about his whereabouts…”

“What whereabouts! Do you think the county office is your family’s?” Magistrate Zheng’s eyes widened, as if he wanted to swallow them whole.

“Your Honor.” Yang Lishi and Lan’er knelt down in fear. The child behind them pouted and cried loudly.

Wang Baochuan had them helped up, “There’s no need to kneel before such a foolish magistrate.”

“Foolish?” Magistrate Zheng saw that her clothes and appearance were like those of a wealthy lady’s daughter. He immediately thought that she was probably a sheltered young lady from a wealthy family. She had happened to come across Butcher Pang bullying the women and was trying to be a hero like those in the storybooks.

He suppressed a smile. What a silly girl from some family. If he didn’t make her family pay today, he wouldn’t let this matter go.

Thinking about this, Magistrate Zheng gave the clerk a look. Clerk Sun immediately stepped forward and shoved Qingqing, “Whose maid are you? Go back and tell your master that your mistress has gotten into trouble. She’s at the county office now. Tell your master to bring five hundred taels of silver to settle this matter.”

“Otherwise, if our county magistrate imprisons her, it won’t be a matter of five hundred taels of silver anymore.”

Qingqing staggered a few steps before regaining her balance, “Sun, you’re just a dog barking at the wind. What trouble has my mistress gotten into? How dare you imprison her!”

Wang Baochuan walked towards Magistrate Zheng step by step, “Lianzi Village, is Yang Xiong alive or dead?”

“Dead!” Magistrate Zheng sneered, threatening, “What are you going to do about it?”

“Where’s the compensation from the court?”

“None of your business! You should have your maid go back and get the money to redeem you! Otherwise, the county jail isn’t a good place!”

“You’re blind!” Wang Wan stepped forward and took out a badge from his pocket.

“Su… General Su’s badge…” Clerk Sun was a bad person, but he had good eyesight. He recognized the badge at a glance.

“Your Honor, they are General Su’s people!” He whispered in Magistrate Zheng’s ear.

“Ah!” Magistrate Zheng’s legs trembled, “This… this…”

“Could it be that the court has sent someone to investigate the compensation?”

“Oh no, what should I do?” He was so scared that he sat down on the ground and couldn’t get up for a long time.

Wang Baochuan looked down at him, “Your Honor, do you still want five hundred taels of silver to settle this matter?”

“Five hundred! A thousand will do! Please, Miss, be merciful. I, your humble servant, have eyes but cannot see. I didn’t recognize your identity.”

Magistrate Zheng knelt down and begged for mercy.

“You mean, if I were just an ordinary person, you could bully me at will?”

“Your humble servant dares not!” He kowtowed heavily, and his official hat fell to the ground.

“Magistrate Zheng, embezzlement, extortion, bullying, bribery…” Wang Baochuan walked around him, “It seems your official career is over.”