“…Miss Zheng, logically speaking, since this Mr. Feng is the person Her Highness the Princess wants to invite, I should let him pass!”
In the county government office, when County Magistrate Zheng met Zheng Yurong, before she could even make a request, he adopted the demeanor of "I am a principled and good official".
His words were firm and resolute, strictly adhering to the law: "However, the quack doctor Feng is harmful, and there is no evidence to prove it. This official really cannot show favoritism!"
County Magistrate Zheng shrugged, looking helpless.
Zheng Yurong curled her lips into a smile and said coldly, "Your Excellency, you have misunderstood! I am not here to ask you to bend the law for personal gain, but to file a complaint!"
County Magistrate Zheng was taken aback. "To file a complaint?"
What are you complaining about?
"I was just now still having doubts, worried that the county magistrate might show favoritism!"
"But after hearing what the county magistrate said, I realized with shame that I had judged him by my own petty standards!"
A hint of mockery flashed in Zheng Yurong's eyes.
The princess had long anticipated that a corrupt official like Magistrate Zheng would not easily let go.
Therefore, when the Princess Consort asked her to verify Physician Feng's character and conduct, she also reminded her to gather as much information as possible about the illegal activities of Magistrate Zheng and his family.
The facts before us show that Zheng is indeed a hypocritical villain who has nothing to hide but pretends to be "righteous" and law-abiding.
Zheng Yurong pulled out a petition from her sleeve and said coldly, "I sue Li, a concubine in Magistrate Zheng's household, for abusing and killing servants, harming the common people, illegally lending money at exorbitant interest rates, and forcing women into prostitution!"
"Although Lady Li is the county magistrate's concubine, since the magistrate is so devoted to the law, he will surely distinguish between public and private matters and put righteousness before family!"
As Zheng Yurong spoke, she looked at County Magistrate Zheng with a provocative gaze.
County Magistrate Zheng's face immediately darkened.
How dare you, you lowly servant!
They actually went to his county government office to sue his favorite concubine?
This wretched maid isn't accusing Li; she's clearly slapping Zheng, the county magistrate, in the face.
"In addition, Li is also guilty of coercing others to give false testimony and slandering the physician Feng An!"
Zheng Yurong, however, seemed not to see the magistrate's dark face, and pulled out a stack of evidence from her sleeve.
Didn't this guy say that Physician Feng "deserved his punishment"? Zheng Yurong just had to produce evidence to prove that Physician Feng was a pitiful person who was framed.
"Nonsense! Li has always been gentle and kind, how could she do such a thing?"
County Magistrate Zheng immediately changed his attitude, and all his previous righteous indignation vanished.
Zheng Yurong feigned doubt, "County Magistrate Zheng, whether it is true or not, the evidence is right here. Why don't you take a look and conduct an investigation, and you'll know?"
"Or is it that you, the county magistrate, never look at the evidence when judging cases, and only rely on your own subjective assumptions?"
"How dare you! You lowly servant, you are the most despicable and wretched of all, being the descendant of an exiled official."
"Don't think that just because you've been taken in as a servant by the Princess of Yue, you're really noble!"
"Let me tell you, it's not the Yue King's Mansion's place to swagger around in Yuezhou."
"How I decide a case is my own business; how dare a lowly servant like you interfere?"
Enraged, Magistrate Zheng glared and completely abandoned his pretense, revealing his arrogant and corrupt official behavior!
"Chief Secretary Zhou, did you hear everything?"
Zheng Yurong glanced at County Magistrate Zheng indifferently, and instead of wasting any more words with him, she shouted something outside.
Standing under the eaves outside the gate, Zhou Wencheng, the chief secretary of the Prince's mansion, frowned deeply, his face full of resentment.
He knew that Yuezhou was far from the capital and that some local officials did not respect the imperial court or the law.
However, Zhou Wencheng still found it hard to accept that Zheng, the county magistrate, was so arrogant.
This fellow isn't even a proper government official; he's not a county magistrate, just a county assistant.
As for Zheng Yurong, although she was of lowly status, she represented Princess Xie.
Princess Xie is a first-rank princess.
The fact that County Magistrate Zheng doesn't even put such a noble princess in his eyes shows just how utterly depraved his arrogance has become.
To put it bluntly, does this Zheng even respect the laws of the imperial court, or the emperors of the capital?
"I heard you! Magistrate Zheng, I advise you to 'judge the case according to the law' and 'handle it impartially'."
Zhou Wencheng slowly entered the hall and gave a deep reminder.
"And who are you?"
County Magistrate Zheng has already turned hostile and no longer pretends.
He sneered, "Chief Secretary? The Chief Secretary of the Prince's Mansion? Hmph, since you are an official of the Prince's Mansion, you will naturally side with the Prince's Mansion."
Zhou Wencheng: ...
He was indeed the chief secretary of the Yue King's mansion, but he was also the person the emperor had arranged to keep an eye on Helian Jue.
In addition, Zhou Wencheng had another duty, which was to supervise the local officials in Yuezhou.
He had the right to write secret memorials to the emperor.
Princess Xie summoned him, presumably to have him serve as a witness.
It wasn't that Princess Xie was abusing her power, but rather that local tyrants like Magistrate Zheng were far too arrogant and domineering.
“Zheng County Magistrate is mistaken. I am an official selected by the Sage, and I will only be loyal to the Sage and the laws of the court.”
"This official reminds you once again—"
Before Zhou Wencheng could finish speaking righteously, County Magistrate Zheng interrupted him with a shout: "Guards! Throw these troublemakers out!"
Zheng Yurong and Zhou Wencheng were somewhat surprised.
Is this how they start acting like scoundrels?
Zheng Yurong coldly reminded, "Troublemaker? County Magistrate Zheng, this servant is not a troublemaker. If you don't care about the law and only about power, my Princess Consort is also a first-rank princess consort."
"So what? Hmph, in Yuezhou, who doesn't know that the King of Yue has been deposed? What is his queen anyway?"
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