When Yu Zhong spoke, almost everyone looked at the small statue in Magistrate Dong's hand. Everyone in the county government office was familiar with it. Magistrate Dong often played with it and carried it with him wherever he went.

Magistrate Dong was stunned for a moment, then lowered his eyes to glance at the small statue. He had spent a lot of effort to obtain this statue. Could it be that his superior had taken a fancy to it?

After a mental struggle, he presented the statue in his hand to her, smiled awkwardly, and said politely, "If you like it, I will give this statue to you as a gift."

He walked towards Yu Zhong cautiously, and then held the small statue in front of Yu Zhong.

Su Juan and others immediately looked at County Magistrate Dong and Yu Zhong. Su Juan almost laughed out loud. County Magistrate Dong was really generous to give away such a precious statue.

Yu Zhong pursed his lips tightly. He had encountered such things before since he joined the Ministry of Justice, but it was rare to see someone as stupid as the magistrate of He County.

Su Juan raised her eyebrows frivolously and said to Yu Zhong, "Master Yu, this is a gift from someone to you, why don't you accept it?"

Look at County Magistrate Dong, he looks reluctant to part with the jade statue. It is obvious how much he treasures it. If he doesn't accept it, he will probably take it back.

Yu Zhong originally came here to stabilize County Magistrate Dong. At this moment, his eyes were filled with contempt, and he looked down on him. "How dare you show off in front of me?"

When County Magistrate Dong heard this, he immediately understood that the other party had no interest in his things at all. He was relieved and immediately put the statue away. He laughed dryly and apologized, "I didn't know that you were coming today. I didn't welcome you. It's really my fault. I will order people to go back to the mansion to clean up a few rooms and invite you to stay."

For fear that Yu Zhong would be unhappy, County Magistrate Dong spoke very carefully and watched Yu Zhong's expression before acting, for fear that he would say something wrong and offend others.

Yu Zhong nodded.

Before the arrival of the Xuzhou prefect, in order to prevent Magistrate Dong from noticing the incident at the inn in advance and taking precautions, the four of them had to stay in Magistrate Dong's house.

That evening, County Magistrate Dong came to invite them, saying that he had prepared a banquet to welcome them.

The group of four followed him into the hall, where they saw ten dishes on the table, as well as good wine. Even the wine glasses were made of fine porcelain.

Su Juan exclaimed in surprise, "Ten dishes! Master Dong is really thoughtful."

County Magistrate Dong smiled and said, "It's just a small banquet. This is what I usually eat."

He is a high-ranking official from the capital. If you serve him well and make friends with him, you may have a chance to get promoted next year.

When Yu Zhong saw the ten dishes, his face turned cold. The victims outside were not able to get enough food, but County Magistrate Dong had a meal with both meat and vegetables, a total of ten dishes.

He hid his anger and did not lose his temper. "Today I heard from one of your servants that all the county offices within Xuzhou will collect fees for filing lawsuits. Is that true?"

County Magistrate Dong looked at the four people in front of him. Seeing that they did not move their chopsticks, he felt uneasy. Hearing Yu Zhong's question, he laughed dryly and said, "Shangguan, you are joking. It's the people below who are talking nonsense."

Su Juan looked at Xie Xun and the subordinate, signaling them to start eating with their eyes. If they wanted to get some truth out of County Magistrate Dong, they had to let his guard down first.

Except Yu Zhong, the other three started eating.

Xie Xun had seen and heard so much on his way to Xuzhou. Looking at the table full of delicious meat and dishes in front of him, he felt uncomfortable. The food tasted like chewing wax and his throat hurt.

Seeing this, County Magistrate Dong was relieved. He laughed and stood up to pour Yu Zhong a glass of wine. "In fact, collecting money for lawsuits does happen in Xuzhou. The county government employs many people and sometimes they are in arrears with their salaries. In order to support their families, there is no other way."

Then he asked tentatively, "I still don't know why Shangguan came to Xuzhou?"

Yu Zhong glanced at County Magistrate Dong and said, "I was ordered by His Majesty to inspect the disaster in Xuzhou. I just arrived in Hexian a few days ago and stayed at an inn. Unexpectedly, I was attacked in the middle of the night."

His voice was light and his tone was nonchalant, but Magistrate Dong's heart skipped a beat!

"This inn is actually a shady shop that robs guests at night."

&t;div tentadv>Dong County Magistrate's back was covered in cold sweat. He suppressed his guilty conscience and said, "How could such a thing happen? It's really abominable! I wonder if you are injured?"

Su Juan ate her meal and looked up at County Magistrate Dong from time to time. "Master Dong, are you asking this because you hope that something bad will happen to our Master Yu?"

County Magistrate Dong laughed twice, a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead, "It was my fault that I was confused. Your Excellency is blessed by the lucky star, so how could anything go wrong?"

He looked at the four people cautiously. Could it be that the people in the inn were exposed?

"It's all my fault for not managing the place properly. I don't know which inn it is. I'll send someone to arrest everyone in the inn and give you an explanation."

Yu Zhong curled his lips and said, "It's not far from here. The main thing is, I ordered someone to interrogate the innkeeper and he actually said that he was instructed by you, the magistrate of He County, Mr. Dong. Don't you think this is strange?"

With a plop, County Magistrate Dong stood up from his chair and knelt on the ground. "Sir! This is all slander. I am a county magistrate. How could I do such a despicable thing!"

"I don't have the guts to do that. Please be more careful!"

County Magistrate Dong cried and complained, expressing his grievances in a way that even Su Juan and others were moved after hearing them.

Yu Zhong said nothing, just looked at County Magistrate Dong.

County Magistrate Dong was sweating profusely at this time. "Sir, I don't know where this man is now. I must confront him face to face and ask him why he slandered me!"

Yu Zhong's hand touched the wine glass, then he picked up the glass and took a sip, "Kill him."

County Magistrate Dong was shocked and did not understand the meaning of this for a moment, "Sir, have you killed him?"

"This man dared to slander an official appointed by the imperial court. Does Lord Dong think he shouldn't be killed?"

Yu Zhong's eyes were slightly cold, and he could see the turmoil in the county magistrate's heart. "He should be killed!"

He breathed a sigh of relief. Just kill him, just kill him.

It seems that this official from the capital is not that difficult to get along with. However, his attitude is so strange that it makes people feel uneasy and unable to figure out what he is thinking.

Seeing that County Magistrate Dong had put down his chopsticks, Su Juan joked, "Sir Dong, it's not that hot now, why are you sweating so much?"

County Magistrate Dong laughed dryly, "I have been weak since I was young, and I sweat a lot."

He took the handkerchief handed to him by the person next to him, wiped his forehead and palms, and looked at Su Juan, wondering in his mind, would an official from the capital bring his family with him when he goes out on business?

In order to get close to her, he smiled and flattered her, "Mrs. Yu is really beautiful, Shangguan is so lucky."

As soon as these words came out, Xie Xun almost spit out the food in his mouth.

What Madam Yu!? Are you blind?

Yu Zhong was also slightly stunned, and then explained, "Master Dong misunderstood, I am not married yet."

County Magistrate Dong was stunned for a moment, then he realized that it must be the confidante who accompanied him on the journey. These high-ranking officials in the capital city really know how to enjoy themselves. He smiled and said, "It turns out that it's not Madam Yu."

Seeing his reaction, Yu Zhong frowned, "This person is a fifth-rank doctor of the Ministry of Revenue. He is traveling with me this time. Lord Dong, please don't misunderstand me again."

County Magistrate Dong’s smile froze on his face. A woman of the fifth rank?