Zhong Zu'an sat there anxiously. He took a deep breath and shouted:
"Someone, help me change my clothes!"
...
After the constable was kicked away, more than a dozen officers rushed over, their knives flashing out, and surrounded Zhao Er.
"Dare to cause trouble at the government office? Don't you want to live?"
The leading officer, brandishing his sword, shouted sternly at Zhao Er.
Without wasting words, Zhao Er waved his hand, and a group of people rushed in and surrounded the dozen or so constables.
"What...what are you doing? How dare you rebel in the government office?"
The leading officer, sensing something was wrong, felt a chill run down his spine and stammered, then ordered his subordinates to go to the back to find their superior.
"Go in quickly and see the lord!"
"yes!"
The subordinate rushed backward, but before he had taken more than a few steps, he bumped into Zhong Zu'an, who was walking towards him.
"Sir, a group of people have arrived outside...!"
"Shut up! What's all the panic about? Come with me to see!"
Seeing his subordinates in a panic, Zhong Zu'an frowned and roared, but his steps didn't falter as he walked towards the front hall.
Upon reaching the front hall, they saw their men surrounded by a group of people. Although the group was unarmed, each of them was burly and strong.
Zhong Zu'an's eyes flickered, then he questioned:
"I wonder who you are and why you are causing trouble at my Beicheng government office."
"Lord Zhong, you're quite capable. The Emperor has issued an imperial decree and sent an imperial envoy to resolve the issue of the rain not falling from the sky. Instead of going to greet him, you're living a leisurely life behind closed doors. I'm afraid you have no idea what kind of lives the people outside are living?"
Lin Yuxin watched as Lord Zhong finally emerged and spoke in a cold voice.
The officials from the Ministry of Works who were following her also got off their carriages and stood at the gate without going in, just watching the spectacle.
They had been standing outside the door watching since the princess sent someone to knock. They had no intention of helping; they just wanted to see the princess make a fool of herself and let her know how treacherous society can be.
Zhong Zuan looked over at the sound and saw a little girl speaking with a cold face.
"Whose daughter are you? Get out of here! How dare you cause trouble in my government office! Tell all your servants to leave, or don't blame me for arresting you all and throwing you all in jail for obstructing official business."
When Zhong Zu'an saw that it was a woman, he relaxed his guard a bit, thinking that it was some young lady from a wealthy family out for a stroll, and that Lu Buping was causing trouble here.
"Lord Zhong, you should take a good look. I am an imperial envoy appointed by the Emperor to control the drought. Are you sure you want to send me away?"
Lin Yuxin calmly took out an imperial edict from her bosom, held it high in her hand, and looked at him with a half-smile.
"No, this is impossible! Wasn't the imperial envoy supposed to be the regent? How could he be a woman? You're lying! The imperial edict you have is fake! You're forging an imperial edict! Guards, arrest her! She's forging an imperial edict; she deserves to be executed!"
When Zhong Zuan saw Lin Yuxin take out the imperial edict, he looked incredulous. He had received information that the imperial envoy should be the regent, and he did not believe that the imperial edict in the woman's hand was real. He immediately decided that no matter whether it was real or fake, he should arrest the person first.
Furthermore, no one informed them of their entry into the city, so it must be a hoax.
At Zhong Zu'an's command, the officers with knives attacked the unarmed people around them.
Unexpectedly, those who were empty-handed suddenly produced weapons from somewhere and attacked them with their weapons raised.
After a while, the group of officials was no match for Lin Yuxin. Half of the people Lin Yuxin brought were sent by the emperor, and the other half were from the Zhao family army. They were all skilled warriors who had been on the battlefield. How could they possibly lose to these officials who were just putting on a show in the city?
In no time, the group of officials were brought under control. Following Lin Yuxin's method, their weapons were confiscated, and they were made to squat in the corner with their heads in their hands.
“You…you are incredibly audacious to hold government officials hostage. I will report this to the Emperor and have him execute your entire family.”
Seeing this, Zhong Zu'an finally realized he was scared. He was outnumbered and could only howl.
"Lord Zhong, you still don't believe I'm an imperial envoy? Then what about this? Do you recognize the imperial sword bestowed by the Emperor?"
As Lin Yuxin spoke, she took out the imperial sword from a box held by one of her subordinates.
Zhong Zuan listened to Lin Yuxin's words and looked at the sword she was holding. His expression changed. He had never seen the Shangfang Sword before, but he knew that since the emperor ascended the throne, he had only recently bestowed one Shangfang Sword, which was the only one he had ever given away.
The one in Lin Yuxin's hand couldn't possibly be fake. Zhong's mind worked quickly, and his expression immediately changed, turning into a smile.
"Your Highness, I am late in welcoming you and I hope you will forgive me."
Zhong Zu'an is a man who can be flexible and adaptable; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to reach his current position.
"You have failed in your duty. As the prefect, it hasn't rained for months, and instead of reassuring the people in advance, you allowed grain merchants to sell grain at high prices and controlled water sources, causing the people to suffer greatly. Meanwhile, you are enjoying yourself in the prefectural office, surrounded by beautiful women!"
As Lin Yuxin spoke, she couldn't contain her anger. Her eyes sharpened, and she drew her sword, swinging it directly at Zhong Zuan.
"ah!"
When Zhong Zuan saw Lin Yuxin swing her sword at him, his mind went blank, his body went cold, he closed his eyes, and cried out in his heart, "It's over, it's over!"
Just when he thought he was going to die, he didn't feel any pain for a long time. He cautiously opened his eyes and saw that the imperial sword had stopped an inch away from his neck.
Zhong Zu'an knew he was not dead, but he broke out in a cold sweat and immediately knelt on the ground, terrified.
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