Chapter 42 Zhao Zhou is punished, dismissed from his post and investigated!

Yan Shu stepped forward: "Sir, we draw water during droughts and drain it during floods! Your Excellency is wise!"

Zhao Zhou looked at Yan Shu in disbelief. "Cultivating wasteland, drawing water during droughts, and draining water during floods?"

How could a bunch of bandits possibly understand these things?

His expression shifted to Su Jingge. Could it be that she was behind this?

Zhao Zhou suddenly realized.

This group of people, well, they've been plotting this all along.

If he convicted them himself, and if he didn't ignore Zhao Anxin, Yan Shu and his group would now be legal.

He didn't report this to the imperial court; if this were investigated further...

But they knowingly broke the law!

This is a dead end!

Su Jingge watched as Zhao Zhou's expression darkened little by little, his eyes darting around, presumably realizing who was at a disadvantage in the current situation.

If Yan Shu and his group hadn't been delayed, they would be acting legally now.

Therefore, there was no question of colluding with mountain bandits.

On the contrary, if Zhao Zhou were to be punished, he would definitely consider the pros and cons.

Now, for him to overcome this obstacle is as difficult as ascending to heaven!

Zhao Zhou swallowed, wiped the sweat from his brow, and forced himself to remain calm: "Who... can testify about this?"

Su Jingge smiled and said, "Who proves it is not important. What's important is whether the letter has reached your territory or not. Don't you know that?"

Zhao Zhou gritted his teeth in hatred, having underestimated her ability to use flattery and soothing words.

"This official... has not seen it."

Zhao Zhou insisted.

Su Jingge stared at the person, her eyes as cold as frost: "It's alright. I heard that the imperial court has sent an inspector to tour various places. He will inevitably pass through Yuxiang County. I will report the matter of surrender truthfully."

"Then we can check with the adults and find out who got the letter."

Zhao Zhou's eyebrows twitched with anger.

You slut! You slut!

What exactly is she trying to do?

Should I personally issue an order allowing such thieves to become civilians?

A bunch of scoundrels dared to fight him.

'smack'

The gavel struck.

"How dare you threaten me?!"

Su Jingge raised an eyebrow and said in a deep voice, "No, no, I'm just reminding you, sir, that incorruptible inspector just dealt with the governor of Wuzhou seven days ago. Think about it carefully, sir, the governor!"

"How powerful is this official? Didn't he immediately order his exile to the north?"

"You are merely a seventh-rank county magistrate; I fear... your entire family may be in danger."

Zhao Zhou stood up instantly, veins throbbing on his forehead, his hand trembling as he pointed at her.

"You, you, you, what a silver tongue you have!" He calmed down. "Although this matter has been reported to me, I cannot make a decision on it."

Su Jingge pressed further, "Then who can make the decision? Let's invite whoever it is!"

“Someone, please invite the princess…” Zhao Zhou said.

-

A short while later, a beautifully decorated sedan chair came to a stop in front of the county government office.

A woman in a scarlet dress stepped off the sedan chair.

Everyone knelt down:

"May the princess be blessed."

An Wanyu flicked her sleeve: "Get up, all of you."

Su Jingge noticed the woman's arrogant and haughty gaze.

Upon seeing the person, Zhao Zhou immediately moved away from his chair, bowed, and cupped his hands, saying, "This humble servant greets the Princess. May the Princess enjoy boundless blessings."

An Wanyu glanced at him sideways. Just now, some people from the government office rushed to the princess's residence.

He insisted that I come over there myself.

The man on the road briefly explained that Zhao Zhou had neither reported the letter of surrender nor conducted any on-site investigation.

Su Jingge and Xie Mo caught him out.

She already knew a little about the situation.

Zhao Zhou cupped his hands and whispered to the woman, "Princess, may I have a word with you in private?"

"How dare you! How dare you speak to the princess?" the maid beside him said sharply.

Zhao Zhou's face paled, and he forced a smile, saying, "This humble servant has overstepped his bounds."

"Let's talk right here," An Wanyu said, sounding slightly impatient.

Zhao Zhou then glanced at Fan Tong beside him.

Fan Tong swallowed and whispered to the princess, "Su Jingge contacted the bandits, no, no, no... Su Jingge was first sued by Zhao Jia Liulang, who said that she adulterated the roof she repaired, and that the materials came from Xishan."

"That Western Hills is the territory of the bandit Yan Shu, and the materials she used were approved by the county magistrate—"

"Let's make a long story short!"

An Wanyu glanced at him.

Fan Tong was shocked: "If Magistrate Zhao hadn't delayed the matter of the letter of amnesty, Yan Shu and the others would already be legal civilians, and then... the materials Su Jingge used would naturally be legal as well." Fan Tong hesitated for a moment, "Magistrate Zhao neglected his duty, and the prefectural... the prefectural princess is probably also at fault for oversight..."

Upon hearing this, An Wanyu glanced at Su Jingge. This little bitch is really not stupid anymore.

To be able to calculate to this extent.

If she is punished today, this matter will surely blow up.

If the inspector really comes down... this matter cannot be hidden.

It seems she's determined to fight against the officials.

Even if it means certain death.

An Wanyu looked at Zhao Zhou, her eyes as black as ink.

It's one thing to be corrupt in ordinary times, but Zhao Zhou dared to commit such a serious crime against the wind.

The current emperor values ​​the matter of granting amnesty very much. It doesn't matter if he dies, but I can't escape the consequences either!

"Zhao Zhou! Is this true?" An Wanyu's eyes were icy.

Zhao Zhou suddenly heard An Wanyu's voice boom in his ear. His pupils dilated, and he hurriedly bowed, saying, "Princess, this humble servant... this..."

She then looked at Xie Mo: "County Magistrate Xie, has Assistant Magistrate Su reported to you about using materials from Xishan?"

Xie Mo stepped forward, bowing respectfully with his hands clasped: "Your Highness, this is indeed true."

Xie Mo then handed over the materials list, as well as the list of materials requisitioned from Xishan, to An Wanyu for review.

After reading it, An Wanyu thought to herself that the matter was now settled.

Pursuing the matter promptly would only lead to a lose-lose situation.

His reputation for loving the people like his own children will be re-evaluated in the eyes of the people.

An Wanyu's eyes blazed with fury, and she immediately ordered: "Zhao Zhou has failed in his duty. He will receive six months' salary and be dismissed from his post for investigation!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in uproar:

"Zhao Zhou is really finished this time."

"The princess is mighty."

"The Assistant Manager is awesome!"

Zhao Zhou was so frightened that he knelt down, clutching his robe: "This humble servant...this humble servant obeys the order."

Xie Mo handed the letter of amnesty from Yan Shu back to An Wanyu: "Princess, this is the letter of amnesty. Please take a look."

An Wanyu looked at the date on the document, and also saw that Zhao Zhou had already sent people to check. They had indeed taken action, and the number of mountains and timber matched up.

If we can't find the problem, then we have no choice but to proceed.

"Zhao Zhou, what should we do?"

An Wanyu glanced at Su Jingge again, and Zhao Zhou realized what was happening.

His face was clear, but he had no choice but to bow and apologize to Su Jinge: "Assistant Su, this was my oversight. The materials you used were legal and legitimate, and there was no collusion with the bandits."

"Please continue the project, Assistant Manager Su."

"This humble servant will certainly approve this document..."

Su Jingge looked at the man, who was bowing down and submitting to her.

She glanced at him, her tone cold and stern: "Lord Zhao, can the people and the officials fight each other?"

Zhao Zhou clenched his fists, wishing he could kill the man on the spot.

He never imagined that she would turn his life around from this seemingly hopeless situation.

He had no choice but to humbly apologize to others.

A sense of humiliation welled up inside me, but I had to forcefully suppress it.

He smiled and said, "The Assistant Manager is wise; how could I, a humble servant, dare to compare myself to him?"

Su Jingge looked at An Wanyu: "Since that's the case, then let's approve it..."

Sweat beaded on Zhao Zhou's forehead as he beckoned to Fan Tong with a flick of his finger: "Take my seal."

Everyone witnessed Zhao Zhou take out his seal and immediately approve the document.

He handed it to Su Jingge with both hands: "Please take a look, Assistant Manager."

Su Jingge took it, her eyes slightly narrowed, and she looked at An Wanyu respectfully, but her tone was cold and oppressive as she said, "Please also stamp it, Princess. Anyone who dares to mention that they are mountain bandits in the future will be going against the Princess."

An Wanyu stared at her with cold, hard eyes.

She's so cunning.

But it's not a big deal that this stamp has been completed.

It's all to give her a good reputation.

Paving the way for her?

We shouldn't refuse this opportunity to gain recognition.

"Someone, bring me my seal!" An Wanyu said.