He asked, somewhat incredulously:

"Is this His Highness the Crown Prince?"

He looked at Zhao Qingzhu.

Zhao Qingzhu pursed her lips and said:

"How come... he doesn't look like it?"

Upon hearing this, the magistrate's eyes rolled back, and he staggered, almost falling backward and fainting.

Fortunately, he didn't faint. Instead, he quickly scrambled to Zhu Yunwen's side and kowtowed to him, saying:

"This humble official was unaware of His Highness the Crown Prince's arrival... Please forgive me, Your Highness..."

Zhu Yunwen lazily lay on the bench and said:

"What are you saying? How is that an unwelcoming welcome? Didn't you greet me very well? You even gave me a stool to lie on."

"And what crime have you committed? I'm the guilty one. Look, I'm lying here obediently, getting ready to be punished."

The magistrate swore that today was the most exciting day of his life, because the grandson of the Ming emperor, that god-like man, had come to his territory.

Not only did he arrive, but his constables also pinned him to a bench, preparing to beat him with a board.

This action left the county magistrate breathless. He glared fiercely at the constable, then repeatedly kowtowed to Zhu Yunwen, saying:

"Your Highness, spare my life! It is my fault for failing to discipline these scoundrels properly, allowing them to commit such heinous acts and run rampant here. I am guilty!"

Their disrespect towards you is truly my fault. I beg Your Highness to punish them, but please spare my family of orphans and elderly relatives..."

Zhu Yunwen then lazily sat up from the bench and said to the magistrate:

"Now you know how to beg for mercy? I thought the officials of your Shacheng County were all incredibly domineering and fearless."