The carriage stopped, and Lan Yu got off first, then, as always, very gentlemanly, he helped Tang 77 down.

Tang 77 looked up at the plaque above the gate; it turned out to be the Prefectural Governor's Residence.

The guards at the gate, looking fierce, stopped them. Lan Yu's personal guard, Li Fei, calmly took out a token and said, "Inform your master that Young Master Shuo Lan has arrived!" The man was startled and ran off to report it.

Tang 77's heart stirred slightly. She secretly glanced at Lan Yu's profile and thought to herself, "He also has the surname Lan?"

A moment later, the governor arrived, tidying his disheveled clothes and running over, not even having time to put on his shoes.

Tang 77 leaned over and said, "You're quite the domineering city lord! That guy was scared to death!"

Tang 77 is absolutely right. Upon hearing that the city lord was about to appear, the governor pushed the beautiful woman who was enjoying herself off the bed, grabbed his clothes, and rushed to greet her.

It's not that Lan Yu was so popular as the city lord; quite the opposite, his methods were too ruthless and brutal, making people tremble with fear!

Upon seeing that the person before him was indeed the city lord, the governor's knees buckled, and he knelt down from afar: "The city lord's sudden arrival is an unfortunate oversight. I beg the city lord's forgiveness!"

Lan Yu raised his eyes, his piercing gaze shooting out like a sword, and said calmly, "I'll spare the governor's pleasure. I hope the governor won't take offense at my abruptness!"

The governor was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat and stammered, "Lord, spare my life!"

"Then let's see if you can keep your life!" After saying that, he pulled Tang 77 and went into the courtyard by himself.

Lan Yu entered the governor's mansion's main hall with practiced ease and sat down in the main seat. Tang 77 tactfully stood behind him.

Lan Yu patted the empty seat next to her and said, "Come sit down!"

Tang 77 didn't stand on ceremony and sat down directly next to Lan Yu. It was a rare opportunity to borrow the tiger's power, so how could he miss it!

The governor looked at the two of them strangely, wanting to ask who this person was who could stand on equal footing with the city lord who killed without shedding blood. However, looking at the city lord's murderous aura, he ultimately swallowed his words.

Lan Yu ignored the trembling governor kneeling on the ground and started chatting with Tang 77.

Tang 77 wasn't stupid either. He just wanted to break the person's will, so he cooperated wholeheartedly, his chin aching from smiling.

Finally, the governor could no longer hold back. He said with a troubled expression, "Lord, you never come to my residence without a reason. You've come all this way just to find a place to chat with your friends, haven't you? I'm too foolish to ask for your guidance!"

Lan Yu fiddled with the ring on his finger and said, "Then tell me, why did I come here!" After saying that, his eyes sharpened, and not only the governor, but even Tang 77 was trembling with fear.

The governor prostrated himself on the ground, trembling, and said, "This humble official did not heed your policy of reducing taxes and allowing the people to recuperate, but instead privately increased the corvée labor of the local people."

"Is that so? Think about it again?" Lan Yu's face showed neither joy nor sorrow.

The governor was silent for a moment, looked at the composed Lan Yu, gritted his teeth and said, "This humble official was lustful and forcibly took a woman into his mansion as a concubine."

Lan Yu sneered: "Your Excellency is in good health. Is there anything else?"

The governor pondered for a long time. The two things he mentioned were obvious and could not be hidden. The others were done very discreetly. He could not confess without being asked!

Then, with a sorrowful expression, he said, "Lord, I believe I have failed your trust. I know my sins, but that's all I can do!"

“Prefect Zhou, you’d better think this through. If you remember on your own, I might leave you a whole corpse. But if I help you remember, I’m afraid all 126 members of your Zhou family will be buried with you!” Even as he spoke such vicious words, Lan Yu’s face remained gentle and harmless.

Governor Zhou insisted, "I beg the city lord to investigate thoroughly; there is nothing else I can do!"

Lan Yu glanced at Governor Zhou and said, "Li Fei, the governor is a bit forgetful. Can you help him think of something?"

Li Fei stepped forward and asked, "Where was Governor Zhou at 9:00 PM on the 3rd day of the 9th month last year? And where was Governor Zhou on the 9th day of the 12th month last year?"

Prefect Zhou's eyes were filled with fear, but he remained stubborn and said, "It's been too long, I can't remember!"

Li Fei slowly stepped forward and kicked Governor Zhou in the chest, then said, "Too far, huh? Then let me tell you something closer! What did Governor Zhou do seven days ago?"

Lan Yu leaned forward and asked slowly, "Has Governor Zhou remembered anything?"

"Lord, spare my life!" Governor Zhou trembled like a leaf.

"Those people who work hard all year round but don't even earn enough to pay your taxes and have to sell their children, do you think I'll let you off the hook?"

Do you think those girls who couldn't bear your insults and could only kill themselves would want to spare your life?

"Oh, and me too. It's obvious your partner failed to take my head, so I'm not going to spare your life either!"

When Governor Zhou realized that Lan Yu had thoroughly investigated his past, he no longer hoped that Lan Yu would show him any mercy.

He suddenly stood up, his face fierce, and said, "Since that's the case, then don't blame me for being impolite, City Lord! Guards!"