Upon hearing the news, the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture came out with his usual smooth smile on his face. He bowed and said, "It is a great honor for Jingzhao Prefecture to have your presence, Princess."

"Your Excellency, there's no need to be polite."

The prefect nodded and said, "Princess, please personally arrest these unscrupulous merchants and bring them to justice. Please rest assured that I will handle the rest."

Chen Jingxi sneered in his heart, but remained expressionless on the surface. He secretly complained in his heart: You are really good at stealing credit. When I was being scolded and pelted with eggs, why didn't you come out to maintain order?

Although she was angry in her heart, she did not say it directly. "Your Excellency is too polite. This case has been tried by me. You only need to listen to the trial."

Upon hearing this, the prefect's expression changed slightly. He stopped in front of Chen Jingxi and said with a smile, "Your Highness, you are wrong. As the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, I should personally handle such matters. How can I trouble you, Your Highness?"

Okay, you're shameless, right?

Chen Jingxi's eyes glared, and a sneer appeared on the corner of her mouth. "The Jingzhao prefect has neglected his duties and blocked my princess from doing her work. Someone arrest him."

Following Chen Jingxi's order, the guards who had been waiting on the side quickly stepped forward and surrounded the prefect.

The prefect's face flushed instantly, and he blew his beard and glared, shouting loudly: "I am an official appointed by the court. How can the princess arrest me at will?"

"Why not?" Chen Jingxi said, pulling out the imperial edict from her sleeve. "This princess has the emperor's personal edict. Sir, you are getting in my way. Take me away."

The prefect's face turned pale instantly. He tried to break free, shouting, "I am an official appointed by the court. You have no right to arrest me. I want to see the emperor."

As the prefect's voice grew quieter, Chen Jingxi smiled and asked, "Who among you is willing to accompany the prefect?"

Everyone in the government office lowered their heads.

very good.

Chen Jingxi walked into the lobby, sat on the official seat, picked up the gavel and banged it.

The yamen runners on both sides of the hall held their sticks and shouted: "Mighty——"

Chen Jingxi was startled. He was indeed very powerful. He coughed lightly and said, "Bring the prisoner up here."

Following her order, several yamen runners acted quickly and escorted the profiteers to the front of the hall, where they all knelt on the ground.

When they looked up at the hall, they found that the Jingzhao prefect who was supposed to be sitting there was nowhere to be seen, and was replaced by Princess Su.

This sudden change caught them off guard and they all looked stunned.

Seeing this, Chen Jingxi smiled faintly and asked in a deep voice, "Do you admit your guilt?"

No one answered. They either lowered their heads in silence or looked at each other.

Seeing this, Chen Jingxi's smile deepened. Do you think that if you don't say anything, I can't do anything to you?

Chen Jingxi looked at the legal advisor beside him and said, "Master, since they have confessed everything, let them sign their names."

Upon hearing this, the lawyer was stunned. How could he sign the contract before the trial?

But then he thought again, Concubine Wang Su must have her reasons for making such arrangements, so he quickly responded and handed the paper supplies that had been prepared long ago to the profiteers one by one.

When the unscrupulous businessmen took the paper supply and looked at it, their faces suddenly changed.

Written on the confession paper were their respective crimes and corresponding punishments: fines ranging from five million to one million taels of silver, sixty strokes of the cane, and exile to the frontier.

They exchanged glances, then raised their heads in unison, shouting, "We want to see the prefect! Princess, you may be a noble figure, but the interrogation should be presided over by the prefect himself. I'm afraid it's inappropriate for you to interfere in this matter!"

"Oh? You want to see the prefect? ​​Sure, but…" She paused deliberately, "But there's a prerequisite. You have to sign this offering paper first."

"Princess, what do you mean? We haven't confessed yet, how can we sign the confession?"

"How can you see the prefect without signing your name? He's waiting for you in the cell."

The profiteers were horrified upon hearing this. "What did you say? You actually threw the prefect into the prison?"

Chen Jingxi nodded calmly, "Yeah, are you surprised? Are you surprised? Sign it quickly, and then you can go to the prison cell and chat with the prefect."

As Chen Jingxi finished speaking, the lobby fell into dead silence.

Suddenly, one of them said, "Princess Su, I advise you to let us go. If you really push us too far, it will be bad for everyone."

Which of these people doesn't have a noble family backing them?

They just didn't believe that Chen Jingxi dared to offend all these aristocratic families.

Even the emperor has to give them some face.

Chen Jingxi sneered. Threatening me? Do you think you have someone behind you, but I don't?

"So what if I don't let you go? You think of me as a horse releaser, so I'll let you go."

At this moment, there was a commotion outside the hall, followed by a cheerful voice: "Third Sister-in-law, what do you want me to do? You even specifically asked me to call more people."

As the voice fell, Chu Jingyue walked in swaggeringly, followed by a group of young masters.

Seeing this, Chen Jingxi stood up with a smile on her face to greet him. Her backstage supporters had finally arrived.

"Oh, Ninth Brother, you are finally here."

"Greetings, Princess Su."

"No need to be polite, we are all friends."

"Third sister-in-law, why did you come to Jingzhao Prefecture?"

Chen Jingxi sighed, "My father asked me to deal with this grain price gouging issue."

"Father is so partial. He didn't even tell me about such an interesting thing."

"I knew you liked the hustle and bustle, so I asked you to come and give me some advice."

Chu Jingyue smiled upon hearing this and said, "Third Emperor's sister-in-law is still the best. She always thinks of me when there's something fun. However, this is such a small matter, why would she need so many people?"

Chen Jingxi smiled and looked at the young men who came with Chu Jingyue, saying, "Of course you want it. It's more lively with more people, and it can also give me courage. I feel much more at ease when you come."

"Did the Third Emperor's wife suffer any injustice?"

"No, this is my first time doing this kind of work, so I'm a little nervous."

"Is there anything the Third Princess needs our help with?"

Chen Jingxi smiled. She was waiting for him to say this.

"Ninth brother, and all the other gentlemen, please help me see if there is anything wrong with this confession."

When everyone heard this, they said that they were not well versed in the law and did not dare to speak carelessly.

Chen Jingxi chuckled and said, "Actually, this is very simple. According to Daxia law, behaviors like price gouging will result in confiscation of property, sixty strokes of the cane, and exile a thousand miles away."

"But I've already calculated it, and this time I'm only fining them five times their illegal gains, which is already considered lenient."

"Do you think my judgment is reasonable and appropriate?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Jingyue's brows flickered with sternness. "Third Sister-in-law, your sentence is simply too lenient for them. In my opinion, their property should be confiscated and their heads should be beheaded in public as a warning to others, so that the world can see the consequences of price gouging."

"Yes, the Ninth Prince is right."

Others also hurriedly echoed.

Chen Jingxi smiled faintly. She wasn't that stupid. Confiscate the family property? How much private property could these profiteers have?